SpaceX has successfully launched another batch of 60 Starlink satellites into orbit on Tuesday, December 6, 2023, as part of its ongoing mission to provide global broadband internet service. The launch took place from Space Launch Complex 40 (SLC-40) at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida, using a Falcon 9 Block 5 rocket.
The Falcon 9 rocket used for this mission was the same one that launched the first crewed mission of NASA’s Commercial Crew Program, Crew Dragon Demo-2, in May 2020. It also launched the Crew-1 mission in November 2020, the Crew-2 mission in April 2021, and the Crew-3 mission in November 2021. This was the fifth crewed mission for this particular booster, making it the most flown orbital-class rocket in history.
The rocket also carried a special payload: a small satellite called DOGE-1, which was funded by the cryptocurrency Dogecoin. The satellite, which weighs about 4 kilograms, is a CubeSat that will demonstrate the use of blockchain technology for space communications and commerce. The satellite was developed by Geometric Energy Corporation, a Canadian company that specializes in renewable energy and space exploration.
The Falcon 9 rocket lifted off at 8:00 p.m. PST (11:00 p.m. EST) and deployed the Starlink satellites into a low Earth orbit about an hour later. The rocket’s first stage then returned to Earth and landed on the autonomous spaceport drone ship (ASDS) named “Of Course I Still Love You” in the Atlantic Ocean. This was the tenth landing for this booster, another record for SpaceX.
Starlink’s Growing Constellation
The Starlink satellites launched on this mission are part of the sixth group of the second generation of Starlink satellites, also known as Starlink 6-33. These satellites feature a new design that reduces their reflectivity and improves their performance and reliability. They also have inter-satellite links that enable them to communicate with each other and form a mesh network.
With this launch, SpaceX has deployed more than 1,800 Starlink satellites into orbit, making it the largest satellite constellation in the world. The company plans to launch thousands more satellites in the coming years, with the goal of providing high-speed, low-latency, and affordable internet access to anyone, anywhere on the planet.
SpaceX has already begun offering Starlink service to select customers in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Germany, France, and other countries. The service costs $99 per month, plus a one-time fee of $499 for the Starlink kit, which includes a user terminal, a tripod, and a Wi-Fi router. The company claims that the service can deliver speeds of up to 150 Mbps and latency of around 20 milliseconds.
SpaceX also has ambitions to use Starlink for other purposes, such as connecting airplanes, ships, cars, and other vehicles to the internet. The company has also partnered with Microsoft to integrate Starlink with its Azure cloud computing platform, and with Google to use its data centers and cloud services.
Starlink’s Challenges and Opportunities
While Starlink has the potential to revolutionize the internet industry, it also faces some challenges and criticisms. One of the main concerns is the impact of Starlink on the space environment and astronomy. The large number of satellites in orbit could create more space debris and interfere with the observations of telescopes and other instruments. SpaceX has taken some measures to mitigate these issues, such as lowering the orbits of the satellites, making them less bright, and installing collision avoidance systems.
Another challenge is the regulatory and legal framework for Starlink. SpaceX has to obtain licenses and approvals from various authorities and agencies in different countries and regions, which could take time and resources. The company also has to deal with the competition and opposition from other satellite operators and internet providers, who may see Starlink as a threat to their business and interests.
Despite these challenges, Starlink also offers many opportunities and benefits for SpaceX and the world. Starlink could generate significant revenue and profit for SpaceX, which could help fund its other projects, such as the Starship, the Super Heavy, and the Mars colonization. Starlink could also provide internet access to millions of people who currently lack or have limited connectivity, especially in rural and remote areas. Starlink could also enable new applications and innovations that require high-speed and reliable internet, such as telemedicine, online education, gaming, and entertainment.
SpaceX is not the only company that is pursuing the idea of a mega-constellation of internet satellites. Other players in this field include OneWeb, Amazon, Telesat, and China.