The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has authorized Space Exploration Holdings, LLC (SpaceX) to deploy a 15,000-satellite Very Low Earth Orbit (VLEO) constellation, granting a critical regulatory waiver that allows the company’s Starlink Mobile service to bypass terrestrial spectrum-leasing agreements and compete directly with major telecommunications carriers.

In an order adopted on October 6, 2026, the FCC Space Bureau and Wireless Telecommunications Bureau approved the massive expansion of the SpaceX Direct-to-Device (D2D) network. The authorization permits the next-generation satellites to operate at altitudes between 326 and 335 kilometers. This strategic architectural shift is designed to deliver 5G data speeds directly to unmodified consumer smartphones while significantly increasing the operator’s long-term capital expenditure requirements.

Architectural shift to Very Low Earth Orbit

The technical parameters approved by the FCC represent a substantial departure from the initial iteration of the Starlink Mobile network. SpaceX filed its application for the 15,000-satellite VLEO constellation in September 2025. Prior to this approval, the first version of Starlink Mobile utilized approximately 650 satellites to provide basic messaging and light data at speeds of around 4 Mbps.

The newly authorized constellation promises 5G speeds of up to 150 Mbps per user. Achieving this performance requires operating the spacecraft in a Very Low Earth Orbit band between 326 and 335 kilometers. Operating at this reduced altitude minimizes free-space path loss and signal latency. This proximity allows the satellites to connect with standard mobile handsets without requiring specialized chips or heavy directional antennas on the consumer device.

The physical environment of VLEO introduces severe operational constraints. At 326 to 335 kilometers, spacecraft are subjected to perpetual atmospheric drag. Maintaining orbital altitude requires continuous electric propulsion burns for station-keeping. This dynamic significantly accelerates natural orbital decay rates. Consequently, SpaceX will face a higher satellite burn rate and must maintain an active, multi-year orbital replenishment pipeline to sustain the 15,000-satellite network.

Regulatory waivers and market competition

The most commercially consequential element of the October 6 authorization is the regulatory waiver granted by the FAA. The commission allowed SpaceX to offer wireless services without securing a spectrum-leasing agreement with a ground-based mobile operator. During the deployment of its first-generation D2D network, SpaceX operated exclusively in the United States through a partnership with T-Mobile US, Inc.

By removing the requirement for a terrestrial partner, the FCC has positioned Starlink Mobile to operate as an independent cellular provider. This clears a regulatory path for the satellite operator to compete directly for consumer market share against traditional carriers including AT&T Inc., T-Mobile, and Verizon Communications Inc., as well as emerging space-based competitors like Amazon and EchoStar Corporation.

The approval aligns with a broader federal initiative to integrate non-terrestrial networks into the national telecommunications infrastructure. FCC Chair Brendan Carr outlined the regulatory philosophy driving these approvals.

The “direct-to-device” proposals work to continue leveraging this cutting-edge tech to end cell phone dead zones and provide service directly from next-gen satellite constellations to your smartphone.

Modernizing the space-based cellular framework

The SpaceX authorization precedes a wider regulatory overhaul of the space-based cellular broadband market. The FCC is actively working to modernize its regulatory framework to accommodate the rapid development of D2D technologies.

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On October 29, 2026, the commission is scheduled to vote on advancing a new wireless spectrum auction specifically designed to boost direct-to-device services. This initiative aims to auction 25 megahertz of key spectrum dedicated to space-based cellular operations. The FCC also proposes making an additional 482 megahertz available for supplemental coverage from space.

These upcoming spectrum allocations are intended to standardize the frequencies available for satellite-to-smartphone connectivity, providing a structured regulatory environment for operators seeking to eliminate cellular dead zones using orbital networks.

AirPro News analysis

The FAA decision to grant a spectrum-leasing waiver fundamentally alters the competitive landscape of the telecommunications sector. By removing the requirement to partner with terrestrial carriers, Starlink Mobile transitions from a supplemental coverage provider to a direct competitor against established ground networks. This regulatory precedent will likely accelerate similar applications from competing constellation operators seeking independent access to the consumer mobile market.

However, the physics of the VLEO architecture present a formidable financial barrier. Operating at 326 to 335 kilometers ensures superior latency and bandwidth, but the atmospheric drag at this altitude guarantees a high satellite attrition rate. We expect this will force SpaceX into a continuous, high-cadence launch cycle solely for constellation maintenance. This operational reality embeds substantial and perpetual capital expenditures into the Starlink Mobile business model, testing the long-term profitability of direct-to-device satellite networks.

Viasat has selected San Francisco-based space infrastructure company Loft Orbital to host a demonstration of its Real-Time Space Relay service, a critical step in NASA’s transition from government-owned communications satellites to commercial networks.

Announced in a May 8, 2024, press release, the partnership will see Viasat integrate a newly developed space-qualified Ka-band terminal onto a Loft Orbital spacecraft. The mission, anticipated to launch in Fall 2025, is part of a $53 million award Viasat received under NASA’s Communications Services Project to evaluate commercial alternatives to the agency’s aging Tracking and Data Relay Satellite system.

Demonstrating commercial relay capabilities

The Real-Time Space Relay service is designed to provide low Earth orbit spacecraft with low-latency, on-demand connectivity for downlinking time-sensitive mission and telemetry data. By leveraging Viasat’s high-capacity geostationary network, the system aims to offer continuous communication links without relying on dedicated ground station passes.

Michael Maughan, Vice President of Space agencies and Mission Systems at Viasat Government Systems, stated the intersatellite link capability will provide significant value during and after the demonstration period. He noted that the multi-orbit service will offer government and commercial customers greater flexibility in downlinking data via the most timely or cost-effective path.

Loft Orbital operates by providing turnkey satellite platforms, flying customer payloads as a service to eliminate the need for clients to build or operate their own spacecraft. Loft Orbital CEO Pierre-Damien Vaujour said the addition of Viasat’s relay service will allow virtual mission customers deploying artificial intelligence applications to maintain continuous real-time access to their payloads.

Phasing out the TDRS network

The Tracking and Data Relay Satellite system has served as the backbone of NASA’s near-Earth space communications since the 1980s. With the current fleet approaching its anticipated end-of-life between 2029 and 2031, NASA initiated the Communications Services Project to shift reliance toward private industry. In November 2024, the agency officially announced that the legacy system will only support existing missions, mandating that new missions utilize commercial services.

In April 2022, NASA awarded six Funded Space Act Agreements totaling $278.5 million to commercial partners to develop near-Earth satellite relay communications. Alongside Viasat, the agency selected SES Space & Defense, Telesat, Amazon, SpaceX, and Kepler Communications. Competitors in the space relay demonstration include SpaceX, utilizing Starlink optical intersatellite links, and Amazon’s Project Kuiper.

Viasat has been expanding its multi-orbit capabilities, completing its acquisition of Inmarsat in May 2023. The company is also pursuing parallel demonstrations under the NASA program, announcing a partnership with Rocket Lab in March 2024 to utilize Viasat’s L-band network for telemetry, tracking, and command operations.

AirPro News analysis

NASA’s transition from operating bespoke communications infrastructure to purchasing commercial services mirrors its successful strategy with the Commercial Crew and Cargo programs. By acting as an anchor customer rather than an owner-operator, the agency is effectively subsidizing the development of a robust commercial space relay market. For companies like Viasat, the Communications Services Project represents a critical bridge. Proving these capabilities in orbit by 2025 positions them to capture long-term government contracts when the legacy network is fully decommissioned by the end of the decade, while simultaneously building infrastructure that can be sold to private low Earth orbit operators.

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The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and Space Exploration Technologies Corp. (SpaceX) are preparing for the return of the Crew-12 mission, targeting an October 7, 2026, undocking from the International Space Station to conclude a nearly eight-month scientific deployment.

The departure follows the successful arrival of the Crew-13 replacement team and a formal change of command aboard the orbital outpost, according to a media advisory issued by the space agency.

Departure timeline and recovery operations

NASA will begin live coverage of the departure sequence at 6:00 a.m. EDT on October 7, 2026, with hatch closure between the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft and the International Space Station (ISS) targeted for 6:20 a.m. EDT. The spacecraft is scheduled to undock from the space-facing port of the station’s Harmony module at 8:05 a.m. EDT.

Following a series of departure burns to move safely away from the orbital laboratory, the Dragon capsule will initiate its deorbit burn at 10:46 a.m. EDT on October 8, 2026. Splashdown is targeted for 11:34 a.m. EDT in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of California.

SpaceX utilizes three designated splashdown zones for Pacific returns, located near Los Angeles, Oceanside, and San Diego. Recovery vessels will be positioned in the primary zone to secure the capsule and extract the crew immediately following splashdown. NASA plans to host a post-splashdown briefing at 1:15 p.m. EDT to discuss the return operations.

The agency updated the departure timeline on October 5, 2026, shifting the undocking and splashdown times from an earlier preliminary schedule to optimize weather and recovery conditions.

Station handover and Crew-13 arrival

The Crew-12 departure marks the end of a brief handover period that began on October 1, 2026, with the arrival of the SpaceX Crew-13 mission. The docking of the Crew-13 Dragon spacecraft temporarily expanded the station’s population to 11 crew members, welcoming NASA astronauts Jessica Watkins and Luke Delaney, Canadian Space Agency astronaut Joshua Kutryk, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Sergey Teteryatnikov.

On October 4, 2026, the combined crews conducted a traditional change-of-command ceremony aboard the ISS. Departing Crew-12 Commander Jessica Meir of NASA officially transferred command of the station to Roscosmos cosmonaut Pyotr Dubrov. Dubrov will remain aboard the station until spring 2027.

In the days leading up to undocking, the Crew-12 astronauts completed final preparations for their return. The crew tested their Dragon pressure suits, packed personal items and scientific cargo, and conducted air and water quality checks aboard the spacecraft.

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Commercial Crew Program operations

The Crew-12 mission is the 12th operational crew rotation flight conducted by SpaceX for NASA under the Commercial Crew Program. The initiative partners the space agencies with private industry to provide regular crew transportation to and from the ISS, with SpaceX serving as the primary operational provider.

The Crew-12 astronauts launched atop a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket on February 13, 2026, and docked with the station the following day. The international crew consists of NASA astronauts Jessica Meir and Jack Hathaway, European Space Agency (ESA) astronaut Sophie Adenot, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Andrey Fedyaev.

During their time in orbit as part of Expedition 74 and 75, the crew contributed to hundreds of scientific experiments and technology demonstrations. Their return clears the Harmony module’s space-facing port for future visiting vehicles and leaves the Crew-13 astronauts to continue the station’s primary research objectives.