Take-off of Falcon 9 from the LC-40 site at Cape Canaveral. © SpaceX
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With a seventh takeoff dedicated to Starlink, its giant communications constellation, SpaceX consolidates its lead to establish a network in orbit and provide a service at the end of the year.
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But behind the scenes, the operator changes course …
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There is only mesh that suits me …
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Tonight, SpaceX could become the first operator to send 420 satellites into orbit in less than a year. A figure that continues to do controversy with the astronomical community, and which will not yet be sufficient to ensure minimal connectivity within the large Starlink constellation…
About 140 units are now in place in the complex coverage of the Earth, 550 km above sea level. A second third is being transferred, while the rest are being tested and positioned, at around 350 km above sea level. A process that takes several months.
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SpaceX’s repeated requests for changes to the American telecommunications agency (the powerful but lax FCC) have somewhat clouded the cards in recent months. The constellation of 12,000, and possibly 42,000 satellites is therefore still bound to evolve.
The American operator has wished in recent times to lower the trajectory of several layers of its planetary mesh: 2,825 Starlink satellites, initially planned at 1,110 km and 1,325 km above sea level (and at different inclinations) will ultimately be located at 540 and 570 kilometers above sea level. SpaceX says it will reduce communications latency; However, several observers suspect this decision to be linked to a future abandonment of very high speed inter-satellite links, which are not currently installed on Starlink.
The company, which continues to say it will be able to offer its first services this year, is already planning the next shooting in Florida early next month. The antennas and terminals have still not been revealed.
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Express takeoff
Today’s launch from the Kennedy Space Center is scheduled for 9:37 p.m. PST, and once again a Falcon 9 rocket using a maximum of recovered elements will be responsible for taking 60 satellites. Starlink in low orbit this Wednesday evening.
The mission, broadcast live, will only last a total of 14 minutes: to allow its teams to maximize the chances of recovering the first floor (this is its 3th vol) and headdresses (this is their 2th use), the target trajectory does not exceed 280 km in altitude… These are therefore the 60 satellites which will have the task of gaining the various “stages” themselves, thanks to their on-board propulsion.
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SpaceX’s efforts to recover the first floor and the caps will however be in the spotlight, as the last two attempts to land on the barge ” Of Course I Still Love You “, Positioned more than 400 km from the coast, failed.
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