SpaceX Plans Up to 100,000 Gen3 Starlink Satellites With Major Speed Upgrades - OnMSFT

SpaceX is preparing a much larger Starlink expansion, as a new FCC filing points to plans for up to 100,000 Gen3 satellites in very-low Earth orbit. The next-generation network is expected to bring much higher capacity, faster speeds, and stronger satellite-to-satellite links than the current Starlink system.

The Gen3 satellites, also called V3 satellites, represent a major redesign over the existing Gen2 Starlink satellites. Each unit is expected to weigh up to 2,000 kg, which makes them far heavier than the roughly 575 kg Gen2 satellites currently used in the constellation.

What changes with Gen3 Starlink satellites

The biggest upgrade comes in network capacity. SpaceX's Gen3 satellites are expected to support up to 1 Tbps of downlink capacity and around 160 to 200 Gbps of uplink capacity. Their combined RF and laser backhaul capacity is expected to reach around 4 Tbps per satellite.

The satellites will operate in very-low Earth orbit, with planned altitude ranges around 323 to 327.5 km and 473 to 477.5 km. This lower orbit can help reduce latency, although it also requires stronger station-keeping and more frequent orbital management.

SpaceX also plans to use advanced phased-array antennas, optical inter-satellite links, electronic beam steering, dynamic power control, and argon Hall thrusters for better performance and interference handling.

Starship will play a key role

Because Gen3 satellites are much larger and heavier, SpaceX is expected to launch them using Starship. This makes Starship an important part of the wider Starlink expansion plan.

Existing Starlink dishes will likely need upgrades to fully use the higher speeds and improved capacity. The filing also remains separate from SpaceX's broader request tied to a much larger satellite network in the future.