SpaceX’s Starlink deployment could face a new hurdle, with satellite operator Viasat petitioning the FCC to stop Elon Musk’s company from expanding its internet-beaming constellation. Viasat, itself a satellite internet provider, has accused Starlink of being a potential environmental nightmare, as SpaceX targets more than 4,400 satellites in total.

So far this year, approximately 700 satellites have been added to Starlink’s constellation, taking the total number to just north of 1,600. However it has also changed its strategy for their positioning. Originally, SpaceX planned to have 1,584 satellites positioned at a 550 kilometer (342 mile) orbit, and a remaining 2,825 satellites considerably further out, at 1,100-1,300 km (684-826 miles).

Starlink dish

That changed earlier this year, with the FCC agreeing that SpaceX could position all its satellites at the closer orbit. It’s that which Viasat is complaining about, having argued that the modification of the agreed deployment should have triggered an environmental assessment first. It joined multiple other satellite operatorsin complaining thatthe repositioned Starlink plan would “substantially increase interference into other systems.”

“We believe the FCC failed to conduct a legally required environmental review under NEPA and did not honor the Biden-Harris administration’s commitment to a science-based approach to protecting the atmosphere, the Earth’s climate, space and the well-being of U.S. citizens before authorizing the launch of thousands of new Starlink satellites into low-earth orbit,” John Janka, Viasat’s chief officer for global government and regulatory affairs, toldSpaceNews. “As such, we have asked the Commission to stay its order until the federal courts review its legality.”

Viasat says it has given the FCC until June 1 to freeze SpaceX’s further Starlink expansion. The companyadded 52 more satellitesto the Starlink constellation on May 15, and is scheduled to launch Starlink-28 on a Falcon 9 rocket tomorrow, May 26. That will carry 60 more satellites into space. SpaceX has previously agreed new policies with NASAaround avoiding orbital collisions, though still faces vocal criticism from astronomers about how intrusive the constellation is for ground-based telescopes.

If the FCC opts not to put Starlink launches on hold, Viasat says it will seek a stay and review of the modified order at the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit.