Starlink V3: One gigabit speed for users thanks to the new XXL satellites

Starlink is by far the largest satellite constellation orbiting Earth. According to the latest figures, there are around 8,500 satellites currently in operation. This allows SpaceX to provide high-speed connection in many parts of the world, including white areas.

20 times more capacity with each launch

Elon Musk’s company plans to reach 12,000 satellites in the near future, with the possibility of exceeding 30,000 later. Currently, SpaceX is launching its Starlink V2 Mini satellites with its Falcon 9 rocket which can carry up to 29 per trip. But soon all this will change.

SpaceX has just released a first look at the third generation of Starlink satellites, much larger than the previous ones. In a publication on X (formerly Twitter), the firm indicates that the V3s, deployed using the Starship rocket, “will offer gigabit connectivity to users and are designed to add 60 terabits per second of downlink capacity to the Starlink network”. That is 20 times the capacity added with each launch currently.

To better understand, you should know that the Starlink V3s are too large for the Falcon 9, and will require the super heavy Starship space launcher. This one is much more powerful, and will be able to transport 60 V3 satellites at a time. The announced 60 terabits correspond to an entire launch, or one terabit per satellite, compared to 96 Gbps for the V2 Mini. The increase in uplink is even more impressive, going from 6.7 Gbps to 160 Gbps.

The ecological consequences are worrying

The V2 Mini weighs just 575kg, while the V3 is expected to weigh around 2,000kg. The animation shared on X shows that the new model is indeed much larger than its predecessors. However, SpaceX won’t be able to begin their deployment for a while. The Starship launcher is still in the testing phase, and has just completed its eleventh test flight. This was the last flight of the second version of the Starship, and it would be the fourth version before it began carrying satellites. This should take off for the first time in 2027.

Many scientists are already worried about the ecological repercussions of Starlink, and larger machines are not going to help matters. These devices have a lifespan of only five years, after which they descend into a lower orbit to burn up in the atmosphere. Larger satellites mean more potential debris, as well as more aluminum and exotic metals that will disperse into the atmosphere, with consequences that are still poorly understood.

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