SpaceX has hit a significant milestone by producing 10 million Starlink satellite internet dishes, marking rapid growth in manufacturing capacity.
Accelerated Production Pace
Sujay Soman, a senior facilities manager at SpaceX, noted in a now-private LinkedIn post that it took nearly four years to produce the first 5 million kits. Since then, SpaceX doubled that output in just about 11 months. This expansion coincides with the company announcing it has surpassed 6 million Starlink subscribers.
Starlink terminals were initially manufactured at SpaceX’s Hawthorne, California facility. However, in late 2023, SpaceX opened a dedicated factory in Bastrop, Texas, focused solely on producing Starlink dishes.
By March, the Bastrop facility reached a production capacity of 15,000 dishes per day, equating to nearly 5.5 million units annually. This is a massive jump from 2021 when production was only 5,000 dishes per week.
The Bastrop factory is set to expand by over 1 million square feet this year, reaching a total of 1.7 million square feet. SpaceX President Gwynne Shotwell also expressed expectations for Bastrop to become the largest printed circuit board manufacturing site in the United States.
Impact on Consumers and Market Expansion
Increasing manufacturing output has helped lower hardware costs for consumers. Since April, SpaceX has offered free standard Starlink dishes, usually priced at $349, in parts of the US when customers commit to a year of service.
The residential Starlink plan is priced at $120 per month in the US, with a more affordable “residential lite” plan at $80 per month offering slower speeds.
Additionally, higher production capacity supports SpaceX’s plans to expand Starlink’s commercial presence in other countries, including India, where launch preparations are underway.
Author’s Opinion
SpaceX’s rapid scaling of Starlink production demonstrates the company’s commitment to making satellite internet widely accessible. By significantly increasing output and reducing hardware costs, SpaceX is well-positioned to connect underserved regions and compete in global markets. The Texas factory expansion is a clear signal that the company views Starlink as a long-term venture with massive growth potential. If SpaceX continues this trajectory, Starlink could become a key player in bridging digital divides worldwide.
Featured image credit: Tremhost
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