Starlink 101- Everything To Know About The SpaceX Project

On May 23rd, 2019, SpaceX launched 60 satellites, the first of thousands Elon Musk plans to launch for global internet coverage, as a part of the Starlink project.

Here is everything you need to know about Starlink.

Backstory:

In November 2018, Elon Musk’s SpaceX was granted permission from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to launch 12,000 satellites into the Earth’s orbit, which can provide global internet access.

Elon Musk emphasized, Starlink will also aim at providing a revenue stream to fund an eventual city on Mars.

What is Starlink?

Named Starlink, this project is designed to use thousands of relatively low cost satellites to provide internet services globally. This project can provide internet access even to the most remote areas in the world.

However, it might take a few dozen launches before this project can start working.

On 23rd May, 2019, SpaceX launched its first set of 60 satellites into the Earth’s orbit from Cape Canaveral, on one of its Falcon 9 rockets. Musk took to Twitter the following day confirming the act and stating, 60 flat panel satellites were launched and were a few hundred kilometers above the Earth. Each of these satellites weighs around 500 pounds and are capable of automatically dodging space junk.

Twelve such launches will be capable of providing affordable and reliable internet services to the U.S. Twenty four launches will be able to serve most of the world and 30 launches for the entire world. This will make 1,800 satellites in total and more will be planned after that.

The Challenge

A number of other companies like OneWeb, Telesat and Leosat have also received permission to launch satellites and are planning to do so soon. Now, the challenge for SpaceX will be to coordinate its constellations in such a way to avoid these other satellites and space junk.

Also, it is unclear as to how well Starlink will perform business wise as it will have to compete with something like 5G.   

All said and done, this is definitely a notable achievement by SpaceX and Mr. Musk stated, Starlink is one of hardest engineering projects he has encountered.   

The satellites are now orbiting at 440 km above the Earth’s surface and are also putting up a show for ground observers as they move across the night sky.