July 10, 2026
The sky is not calm
SpaceX wants to launch 100k more Starlink satellites – for 100x the bandwidth
Starlink wants 100,000 more satellites, and commenters are already yelling at the sky
TLDR: SpaceX wants approval to launch 100,000 more Starlink satellites and says the network could become vastly faster. Commenters are split between seeing it as a lifeline for rural internet users and calling it a reckless mess that could pollute space, clutter the sky, and solve the wrong problem.
SpaceX has asked the US government for permission to launch a jaw-dropping 100,000 new Starlink satellites, promising much faster internet and less delay. On paper, it sounds like a sci-fi dream: more coverage, higher speeds, and a giant upgrade for people stuck with terrible internet in remote places. But in the comments? Absolute chaos.
The loudest reactions were split between "this is amazing for rural users" and "please do not turn orbit into a junk drawer." One commenter basically cheered for the satellites to burn up so the whole thing could end, while another demanded a massive cleanup fund for pollution and space debris before a single extra launch happens. The environmental panic was intense, with people worrying about toxic fallout, crowded skies, and even the future of the night sky itself. One darkly funny jab predicted that the satellites will eventually start showing ads, which is the kind of nightmare joke that feels a little too believable.
Still, not everyone was raging. A few people shrugged and said, essentially, of course Musk is aiming absurdly high. Others questioned whether Starlink is really that useful outside places with little or no broadband, pointing out that once fiber internet arrives, satellite service can look overpriced and underwhelming fast. That became the real drama: is Starlink a lifesaver for the disconnected, or just a very expensive space flex? Either way, the comments made one thing clear: people are not just debating internet speeds — they're fighting over the future of the sky.
Key Points
- •SpaceX has asked the FCC for approval to deploy 100,000 Gen3 Starlink satellites in very low Earth orbit, compared with nearly 11,000 Starlink satellites currently in orbit.
- •SpaceX says the Gen3 network would provide ultra-low-latency, multi-gigabit symmetrical broadband and increase total Starlink bandwidth by about 100 times.
- •The article cites PCMag testing showing current Starlink Residential Max performance at roughly 145 to 170 Mbps download and just under 40 Mbps upload in measured use.
- •Gen3 satellites would each weigh more than 2,000 kilograms, making Falcon 9 unsuitable for launching large numbers at once; Starship is presented as the long-term solution, with Falcon Heavy as an interim option.
- •The FCC filing seeks a broad set of spectrum bands and rule waivers, and SpaceX says it would coordinate to avoid interference while requiring users to upgrade terminals and antennas for Gen3 service.