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[UPDATE (20200107_023514 UTC): Launch went off smoothly and on time. Booster landed safely on the drone ship. Second stage is in proper orbit and currently in coast phase leading up to satellite deployment.]
With Monday night launch, SpaceX to become world's largest satellite operator:
In 2019 SpaceX launched two batches of 60 Starlink satellites—one experimental, and the second operational. On Monday, the company plans to add 60 more satellites with a nighttime launch of the Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida.
If all goes to plan, this mission will be just the first of as many as 20 Starlink launches this year as SpaceX builds up a constellation of satellites in low-Earth orbit to provide global Internet service. SpaceX may begin to offer "bumpy" service by the middle of this year to some consumers.
Following this next launch, scheduled for 9:19pm ET Monday (02:19 UTC Tuesday), SpaceX will have a constellation of nearly 180 satellites in low-Earth orbit, each weighing a little more than 220kg. This will make the company simultaneously the world's largest private satellite operator (eclipsing Planet Labs), while also being the most active private launch company.
[...] Monday night's launch attempt will occur on a Falcon 9 first stage that has flown three times previously, in September 2018 (Telstar 18 VANTAGE), January 2019 (Iridium-8), and May 2019 (the first experimental Starlink mission). After launching, the first stage will land on the "Of Course I Still Love You" droneship offshore in the Atlantic Ocean. Another vessel, "Ms. Tree," will attempt to recover a payload fairing half. The Starlink satellites themselves will deploy at 61 minutes into the mission, at an altitude of 290km.
A webcast of the mission should begin about 15 minutes prior to launch.
Link to the YouTube webcast.
Previously:
Astrophysicists Peeved As SpaceX's Starlink Sats Block Meteor Spotting
SpaceX's Starship Can Launch 400 Starlink Satellites at Once
Elon Musk Sends Tweet Via SpaceX's Starlink Satellite Broadband
SpaceX Requests Permission to Launch an Additional 30,000 Starlink Satellites, to a Total of 42,000+
Three of SpaceX's Starlink Satellites have Failed
Most of SpaceX's Starlink Internet Satellites are Already on Track
Third Time's the Charm! SpaceX Launch Good; Starlink Satellite Deployment Coming Up [Updated]
SpaceX's First Dedicated Starlink Launch Set for May; Amazon Hired SpaceX Execs for Project Kuiper
SpaceX Seeks Approval for 1 Million Starlink Ground Stations, Faces Pentagon Audit
U.S. Air Force Awards SpaceX $28.7 Million to Study Military Applications of Starlink
SpaceX CEO Elon Musk Fired Managers and Employees in June to Shake Up Starlink Project
SpaceX Starlink Satellite Prototypes Include Packed, Flexible Solar Arrays
(Score: 2) by legont on Tuesday January 07 2020, @04:29AM (1 child)
Let me put it straight. The headline says that SpaceX is the "largest satellite operator" which is outright lie designed for idiots who do not read the body of the message. Pure and simple brain washing.
"Wealth is the relentless enemy of understanding" - John Kenneth Galbraith.
(Score: 2) by takyon on Tuesday January 07 2020, @05:05AM
It is the largest private satellite operator. The U.S. has 163 "government" and 189 "military" satellites [ucsusa.org]. Split those numbers by agency or branch and Starlink at 182 is likely ahead.
I'm not sure why the "brain washing" is needed when SpaceX will exceed even the most generous assessment of "largest satellite operator" within a few months.
[SIG] 10/28/2017: Soylent Upgrade v14 [soylentnews.org]