SpaceX has initiated the Starlink Mission by placing first 60 of its Starlink satellites in its “Starlink” constellation which is targeted to contain over 12,000 satellites by the mid-2020s. The mission is aimed at providing broadband internet services from space.
The space agency confirmed the deployment of 60 Starlink satellites that were loaded on Falcon 9 rocket which blasted off from Cape Canaveral launchpad in Florida around 10:30 pm on Thursday. An hour into its flight, the rocket started deploying the satellites into low Earth orbit 280 (450 km) miles above.
The satellites then used onboard Hall thrusters to reach their respective positions in a relatively low orbit 340 miles (550 km) above. The orbit is slightly higher than the ISS (International Space Station).
The launch was first scheduled for last week but postponed- first due to bad weather conditions and then a software needed to be updated.
SpaceX’s Starlink mission is aimed at providing reliable and affordable broadband internet services from space through its next-generation network of Starlink satellites. According to the company, the network is capable of connecting the globe and especially those regions that are yet not connected.
The Starlink is designed to connect end users with low latency, high bandwidth broadband services capable of up to 1Gbps even in rural areas. The network of thousands of satellites in low Earth orbit will provide continual coverage around the globe.
The Starlink network will become operational once the satellite count reaches 800 requiring a dozen more such successful launches.
Each Starlink satellite, with a flat-panel design featuring high-throughput antennas and a single solar array, weighs approximately 227kg. Each spacecraft is equipped with a star tracker navigation system allowing SpaceX to point the satellites with precision. The satellites are also capable of tracking on-orbit debris and can avoid collision autonomously. The best thing is that 95% of all component in this design will quickly burn in Earth’s atmosphere at the end of each satellite’s lifecycle. The future designs will disintegrate completely into the earth’s atmosphere, said the company.
“This mission will push the operational capabilities of the satellites to the limit. SpaceX expects to encounter issues along the way, but our learnings here are key to developing an affordable and reliable broadband service in the future,” the space agency said in a statement.
At competitive pricing, the internet services will be accessible from anywhere on Earth and the users can connect to it using their mobile phones and other compatible devices. The company is all set to capture the majority of the future space internet market and to compete with OneWeb, a startup, and Amazon’s Project Kuiper. The profits will help fund CEO Elon Musk‘s next mission- mission to colonize Mars.
