News Summary

The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has initiated a collaboration with SpaceX, led by Elon Musk, to test Starlink terminals for upgrading airspace management networks. This move comes as a potential conflict of interest with the FAA’s ongoing $2 billion contract with Verizon Communications for infrastructure support and maintenance. The FAA is currently testing Starlink terminals in Atlantic City, NJ, and Alaska, and had considered utilizing SpaceX technology since the previous presidential administration. This partnership follows recent FAA actions requiring SpaceX to investigate a mid-flight explosion of its Starship rocket.