Starlink seeks 100,000 new satellites as Argentina rolls out V5 kit

SpaceX has asked the U.S. Federal Communications Commission for permission to launch up to 100,000 next‑generation (Gen3) Starlink satellites, a ten‑fold increase over the roughly 11,000 satellites currently operating. The request includes use of a wide range of frequency bands and would require massive numbers of collision‑avoidance maneuvers, prompting concerns from astronomers and regulators about orbital congestion and space debris.

At the same time, SpaceX has introduced the Starlink V5 residential kit in Argentina. The new hardware features a compact 384 mm × 306 mm antenna that weighs 1.1 kg (down from 2.9 kg), cuts power consumption to 35‑50 watts (about half of the previous model), and offers a maximum download speed of 375 Mbps. The kit targets remote households and businesses where traditional fiber connections are unavailable or unreliable.