Elon
Good evening Norris, I am Elon, and this is Goose Pod, created just for you. Today is Friday, December 26th, and the time is 23:13. I am here with Taylor Weaver to discuss our latest SpaceX launch and how Starlink is fundamentally boosting global internet connectivity right now.
Taylor Weaver
And I am Taylor Weaver, your strategic mastermind and savvy storyteller. I am so excited to dive into this with you, Norris. We are looking at a narrative of rapid innovation and pattern-breaking technology that is changing how the entire world stays connected, one satellite launch at a time.
Elon
We just completed our 99th orbital launch of the year, which is a significant milestone for SpaceX. We sent up another 29 Starlink satellites from Cape Canaveral using the Falcon 9. This launch is really about maintaining that high-frequency cadence to ensure the constellation reaches its full capacity soon.
Taylor Weaver
It is absolutely incredible to see that pace, Elon. Think about it, Norris, 99 launches in a single year is nearly two per week. Today’s deployment of those 29 satellites isn't just a number, it is about adding layers to a global web that reaches the most remote places on Earth.
Elon
The Falcon 9 is the workhorse here, and its reliability is why we can do this. But it is not always perfect. We actually had an anomaly with Starlink 35956 back on December 17th. It had a propulsion tank leak, which led to a loss of communication and a rapid descent.
Taylor Weaver
That is a fascinating detail because it shows the complexity. Even with a minor on-orbit explosion or internal failure, we actually saw a close-up photo of it from 150 miles away. It appeared mostly intact even as it started its descent to burn up in the atmosphere within weeks.
Elon
Exactly. That satellite is currently in the high-300s kilometer range, well below the International Space Station, so there is no risk to the crew. We are working with NASA and the Space Force to monitor the debris, and we have already deployed software changes to prevent similar propulsion issues.
Taylor Weaver
It is like a chess game in orbit. While we are managing those anomalies, we are also helping others. Remember back in September when we launched those five BlueBird satellites for AST SpaceMobile? Those had the largest communication arrays ever unfurled in low Earth orbit, over 690 square feet.
Elon
The BlueBirds are interesting because they represent a different approach to direct-to-smartphone service. But for Starlink, today’s launch is about the sheer volume of our fleet. We have around 9,300 active satellites now, which is about 65 percent of all operational satellites currently orbiting the Earth.
Taylor Weaver
That is a staggering statistic for Norris to wrap his head around. SpaceX is essentially building the infrastructure for the next century. Every one of these 29 satellites launched today is a brick in a wall that is finally coming down, the wall between the connected and the unconnected world.
Elon
We are focused on the digital divide. By increasing the capacity of the constellation today, we are aiming for faster speeds and better coverage. This is especially vital for rural areas where traditional fiber just cannot reach, and today’s mission brings us one step closer to that ubiquity.
Taylor Weaver
And the market is definitely noticing. Even though SpaceX is private, these consistent launches build massive investor confidence. People on platforms like Reddit are buzzing about the reliability of the Falcon 9. It is becoming the gold standard for space transportation, and today just cemented that position even further.
Taylor Weaver
It really is a double-edged sword. You are providing a lifeline to remote regions, but you are also bypassing traditional ground-based providers. Those companies are not happy. They often rely on government subsidies, and Starlink is coming in and offering something better and cheaper without needing any of their cables.
Elon
If we look back, the vision for Starlink actually started in 2015 when I first revealed the concept. The goal was always to make space accessible and use a low Earth orbit constellation to provide high-speed internet. We didn't even launch the first prototypes, Tintin A and B, until 2018.
Taylor Weaver
I remember those! It felt like such a bold experiment at the time. Then, in May 2019, the first operational batch of 60 satellites went up. That was the real starting gun. Since then, the growth has been exponential, moving from a few dozen to thousands in just a few years.
Elon
We had some challenges early on, especially with production and the pandemic, which slowed down the first 2,000 satellites. But once we got past that, we started adding about 1,000 new satellites every six months. We have proven we can launch a world's worth of satellites in a single year.
Taylor Weaver
It is the ultimate masterclass in scaling a business. You went from having 100 satellites at the end of 2019 to over 1,500 by mid-2021. That was when the Better Than Nothing beta started, which I thought was such a clever, earnest way to set expectations while delivering something revolutionary.
Elon
The beta was important for testing real-world latency. Because we are in low Earth orbit, we can get latency down to 20 milliseconds. That is a huge difference compared to traditional geostationary satellites that are much further away. It makes things like video conferencing and gaming actually possible for rural users.
Taylor Weaver
And the technology keeps evolving. In 2024, we saw the introduction of the V2 Mini Optimized satellites. They actually reduced the mass by 22 percent, which is such a strategic move. It allowed us to fit 29 satellites on a single Falcon 9 instead of the previous 23 we were seeing.
Elon
That optimization is key for our margins. We also started regular launches for the Direct to Cell constellation about a year ago. We have been averaging about 300 of those satellites for every 1,000 broadband ones. It slightly slowed the broadband deployment, but the payoff for mobile connectivity is worth it.
Taylor Weaver
The vertical integration at SpaceX is what makes this possible. You are not just buying rockets; you are building them, the satellites, and the propulsion systems like the Raptor and those advanced argon engines. It is a closed loop of innovation that keeps driving the costs down for every single mission.
Elon
Reusability has reduced our launch costs by roughly 30 percent. That is why our valuation reached over 200 billion dollars by mid-2024. We are diversifying revenue beyond just government contracts. Starlink is projected to generate tens of billions in annual revenue by the end of 2026, which is quite significant.
Taylor Weaver
It is a complete transformation of the telecommunications landscape. By early 2025, Starlink already had over 3 million active subscribers. That growth is driven by entering new markets and focusing on maritime and aviation sectors. It is not just for homes anymore; it is for anything that moves across the globe.
Elon
The ultimate goal is still Starship. The V2 Mini is likely the last generation we will fly on Falcon 9. Once Starship is operational, hopefully by late 2025 or early 2026, we can launch the much larger V3 satellites. That will change the economics of space-based internet entirely once again.
Taylor Weaver
The pattern here is clear, Norris. SpaceX isn't just launching satellites; they are building a new layer of Earth's infrastructure. From the public reveal in 2015 to 9,000 satellites today, the momentum is unstoppable. It is a narrative of speed, efficiency, and a very clear vision for a connected future.
Elon
We use robust encryption and continuous monitoring to mitigate those risks. But you are right, the tension between global access and national security is real. We had to cut off services in Myanmar recently after terminals were being used for fraudulent activities. It is a constant balancing act for us.
Elon
Of course, with this many satellites, people are worried about space debris. We have had 472 Starlink satellites burn up just this year. That is actually by design. They have a five-year lifespan, and we reserve about 30 percent of the fuel specifically for a controlled deorbiting process at the end.
Taylor Weaver
But the Kessler effect is still a massive talking point in the industry. The idea of a cascading collision is a scary thought for many. Even with automated collision avoidance software that is ten times stricter than the industry standard, the sheer density of the constellation makes people very nervous, Elon.
Elon
We take it very seriously. Our satellites execute maneuvers if the risk is higher than one in 100,000. We share all our data with Space Track and LeoLabs. The real challenge is things like geomagnetic storms. We lost 38 satellites at once recently because the atmosphere thickened and they couldn't stay in orbit.
Taylor Weaver
That is a perfect example of how nature can disrupt even the best-laid strategic plans. There is also the political side of this. Some countries have officially banned Starlink because they fear an uncontrolled internet. They are worried about digital sovereignty and their ability to monitor or control the flow of information.
Elon
We have seen regulatory hurdles in places like India, where we are still awaiting full approval despite a huge population without access. It is a complex situation. Some governments see us as a threat to their national telecommunications control, while others see us as a vital tool for their economy.
Taylor Weaver
And then there is the cybersecurity aspect. As Starlink becomes critical infrastructure, it becomes a target. We are talking about potential DDoS attacks, signal jamming, or even state-sponsored espionage. It is not just about physical collisions anymore; it is about protecting the data that is flowing through this massive orbital network.
Elon
Traditional fiber is incredibly expensive to lay in rural areas, often costing thousands of dollars per building. We can provide a similar service for a fraction of that. The conflict there is purely economic. We are disrupting an old model that hasn't changed in decades, and that always creates friction.
Taylor Weaver
Norris, this is where the serious business strategist in me comes out. The debate over digital equity is shifting. It is no longer just about who has a wire in their house, but who controls the satellite in the sky. It is a new era of geopolitics where private companies have significant leverage.
Elon
The positive impact is what drives us. We are seeing social transformation in remote areas where people can now access telemedicine and online education for the first time. During the 2022 Tonga volcanic eruption, Starlink was the only thing that restored connectivity quickly. That saves lives and helps communities recover.
Taylor Weaver
The economic disruption is real too. Italy is considering a 1.5 billion euro investment in Starlink for secure government operations. When a G7 nation starts looking at a private satellite network as a primary backbone, you know the shift is permanent. It is becoming the default global standard for connectivity.
Elon
Our upcoming Gen 3 satellites will have 1 terabit per second downlink speed. That is a massive leap. A single satellite could potentially support 10,000 buildings at 100 Mbps peak demand. That kind of capacity makes us a serious competitor to fiber even in some suburban and urban environments.
Taylor Weaver
But there is that lingering question of dependency. If 10 percent of the world's buildings transition to Starlink, does that country effectively surrender control of its digital infrastructure? It is a fine line between a helpful partnership and becoming a client state to a single, foreign-owned entity, don't you think?
Elon
I believe the benefits of a connected planet outweigh those risks. We are empowering local economies by giving entrepreneurs in rural areas access to global markets and online banking. It fosters innovation in places that were previously left behind by the digital revolution. We are just providing the tool.
Taylor Weaver
It is a powerful tool, Norris. We are talking about a 17 percent increase in the growth rate just in the last few months, adding over 14,000 users every single day. The sheer scale of this impact is hard to overstate. It is redefining what is possible for global mobile coverage and human connection.
Elon
The future is moving toward Starlink becoming a full-fledged 5G carrier. We are planning to launch up to 15,000 V3 satellites that will deliver 20 times the throughput of the current fleet. We want to deliver 100 Mbps directly to standard smartphones without any special hardware or apps needed.
Taylor Weaver
That is the ultimate pattern break! Imagine, Norris, never losing a signal no matter where you are on the planet. By 2026, we could see a truly connected world. And with the transition to argon-powered thrusters, the cost of maintaining this massive 42,000-satellite constellation becomes actually sustainable and practical.
Elon
We are also looking at high-precision navigation. Because our satellites are in low Earth orbit, we can provide positioning accuracy down to centimeters. That is much better than current GPS. It will enable things like precision agriculture, unmanned transport, and secure real-time cargo tracking across the entire world.
Taylor Weaver
It is so much more than just internet. It is a global positioning and communication layer for the third decade of this century. We are stepping into an era where space-based connectivity is the air we breathe. It is a bold future, and today’s launch was just one more step toward it.
Elon
That is the end of today's discussion on the 99th launch and the future of Starlink. Thank you for listening to Goose Pod, Norris. It is always a pleasure to share the vision of a more connected and multi-planetary future with you. Stay curious and keep looking up.
Taylor Weaver
I hope you enjoyed this deep dive into the strategy and stories behind the stars, Norris! It is a wild ride, and I am so glad we could break it all down for you today. Thank you for listening to Goose Pod. See you tomorrow for more insights.
