FCC “accepts” Starlink 100,000 satellite plan for filing
September 21, 2026

By Chris Forrester



The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has issued a Public Notice which covers SpaceX’s scheme to launch 100,000 ‘Starmind’ AI computing satellites. The FCC Notice, on September 18th, said that its Licensing Division has accepted the plan as an official “filing”. This initial 100,000 is part of the larger scheme for up to 1 million satellites.

This does not mean the application is approved, but is now in place for review and now formally invites comments from the industry and interested parties. Being accepted for filing just means the paperwork is complete enough to go on public notice, it is not an automatic grant of a request.


Elon Musk, in a comment on September 20th, stated: “Connectivity per sat will be more like 10Tb in both directions and there is a path to 100+Tb. Each sat is 250kW and will have a SpaceX-designed Nvidia Vera Rubin NVL72 computer.”

The application says that the satellites will orbit in two very low Earth configurations, 323-327.5 kms and 473-477.5 kms altitude.

Each satellite will weigh up to 4,000 kgs (although once in orbit they are weightless) but are heavyweights when compared to the current Version 2 craft and about twice the weight of the reported mass of Starlink Version 3 satellites. The Starmind craft will each have a 75 metre wingspan.

The FCC stated: “Consideration of each satellite application in this Public Notice may depend on the Commission’s action on another satellite application earlier in the queue.”

The application covers SpaceX Starlink Version 3 craft. Each V3 satellite is designed for up to 1 Tb/s downlink, 160 Gb/s uplink and six 400 Gb/s space lasers. Starship launches – and one is scheduled for September 28th – will add ~20× the capacity of Falcon 9 launches of V2 satellites.