Recently, SpaceX CEO Elon Musk showed 60 mini-satellites that his company is going to launch into space one of these days. These will be the first of thousands of satellites in a space network that is designed to provide global Internet coverage. Mr. Musk tweeted a photo of the satellites packed tightly inside the nose cone of the Falcon 9 launch vehicle that will launch the ship into orbit.
These satellites are the first operational prototypes of SpaceX's Starlink initiative, which involves deploying a network of nearly 12 spacecraft in low Earth orbit. US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to launch two constellations of satellites for the Starlink project: the first will consist of 4409 satellites, followed by a second of 7518, which will operate at a lower altitude than the first.
First 60 Starlink satellites loaded into Falcon fairing. tight fit.
- Elon Musk (@elonmusk)
The FCC's approval comes with the condition that SpaceX launch half of the satellites over the next six years. So far, SpaceX has launched only two test Starlink satellites into orbit in February 2018, called TinTin A and TinTin B. According to SpaceX investors and Mr. Musk, the duo performed well, although the company ended up placing them in a lower orbit than initially planned. As a result, SpaceX, based on the data collected, received permission from the FCC to launch some of its satellites in lower orbit.
Now the company is seriously preparing for the launch of the Starlink project. , the design of the first batch of 60 satellites is different from the TinTin devices, and is what will be used ultimately. However, last week during a conference, SpaceX President and COO Gwynne Shotwell noted that these satellites are still not fully functional. Although they will receive antennas to communicate with Earth and the ability to maneuver in space, the devices will not be able to communicate with each other in orbit.
In other words, we are again talking about test satellites, which are designed to show how the company is going to launch their orbit. On Twitter Musk that more detailed information about the mission will be provided on launch day. The launch from Cape Canaveral in Florida is currently scheduled for May 15.
Elon Musk also noted that a lot can go wrong in the first launch. He , that to provide negligible Internet coverage would require at least six more launches of 60 satellites, and 12 launches for moderate coverage. Ms. Shotwell said SpaceX could fly two to six more Starlink missions this year, depending on how the first flight goes. One Twitter user was quick to point out that seven launches would equal 2 satellitesβan arithmetic that Musk really liked, although he admitted that might not be his lucky number anymore. The number 6 is popular in marijuana culture, and a billionaire to boot. about plans to privatize Tesla with a buyout of $420 per share, after which it in fraud.
That *might* not be my lucky ???? number
- Elon Musk (@elonmusk)
SpaceX is just one of many seeking to launch large constellations of satellites into space to provide global internet coverage. Companies such as OneWeb, Telesat, LeoSat, , are also working in this direction. OneWeb launched the first six satellites in February this year. But SpaceX wants to be well positioned in the race to bring space-based Internet to people.
Source: 3dnews.ru