Posted: Sun, Apr 28, 2019, 9:02 AM ET (1302 GMT)
SpaceX said Friday it received approval from the FCC to place some of its broadband communications satellites into a lower orbit. The FCC said SpaceX could launch 1,600 of its 4,425 Starlink satellites into orbits 550 kilometers high, rather than the previously planned 1,150 kilometers. SpaceX made the request six months ago, arguing the lower orbit would result in a safer space environment since the satellites would reenter within five years, while also reducing the latency of satellite signals. SpaceX expects to launch the first set of operational Starlink satellites as soon as May.

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