https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/...nk-satellites/
Judges reject Viasat’s plea to stop SpaceX Starlink satellite launches
SpaceX can keep launching broadband satellites despite a lawsuit filed by Viasat, a federal appeals court ruled Tuesday.
Viasat
sued the Federal Communications Commission in May and
asked judges for a stay that would halt SpaceX's ongoing launches of low Earth orbit (LEO) satellites that power Starlink Internet service. To get a stay, Viasat had to show that it is likely to win its lawsuit alleging that the FCC improperly approved the satellite launches.
A three-judge panel at the US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit was not persuaded, saying in a
short order that "Viasat has not satisfied the stringent requirements for a stay pending court review."
The judges did grant a motion to expedite the appeal, however, so the case should move faster than normal…….
Dish Network is also fighting SpaceX's FCC approval, and Dish's case was consolidated with Viasat's appeal. The judges set an August 6 deadline for Viasat and Dish to file opening briefs. The FCC will have until September 21, and SpaceX will have a deadline of September 28.
Dish and Viasat will have until October 12 to file replies, and final briefs are due October 26. Oral arguments will follow "on the first appropriate date" after briefs…..
The FCC has given SpaceX several approvals of satellite launches. In 2018, the FCC approved 4,408 satellites….. SpaceX also has FCC approval for another 7,500 satellites with even lower orbits…..