SpaceX StarLink satellite internet [UPDATES]

[DocM]

Here we go....

 

 

[DocM]

 

[DocM]

Recently SpaceX did the second funding round in the last few nonths for STARLINK and Starship/Super Heavy. Together they should bank another $1 billion by years end.

 

In more news; SpaceX STARLINK statement,

 

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Today, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) approved SpaceXs request to fly more than 1,500 of its Starlink satellites at an altitude of 550 kilometers. Additional information on the approval can be found here, and the following statement can be attributed to Gwynne Shotwell, President and Chief Operating Officer at SpaceX:

 

"This approval underscores the FCCs confidence in SpaceX's plans to deploy its next-generation satellite constellation and connect people around the world with reliable and affordable broadband service. Starlink production is well underway, and the first group of satellites have already arrived at the launch site for processing."

SpaceX is targeting no earlier than May for launch of a Starlink mission.

Last year, SpaceX became the first U.S.-based company to be licensed by the FCC to operate a NGSO constellation of more than 11,000 satellites.

Earlier this year, SpaceX submitted an application to operate 1 million user terminals as well as its first six gateways to provide the necessary communications links back from the satellites to the global Internet. SpaceX intends to install sufficient gateway sites in the U.S. and around the world to ensure that the Starlink satellites have a visible gateway earth station with which they can communicate from all parts of their orbits.

 

[DocM]

SPACEX STARLINK TWEET THREAD: long Starlink media call w/Elon Musk

 

 

 

[DocM]

Thursdays webcast

 

 

 

[Jim K Global Moderator]

 

[Jim K Global Moderator]

 

[DocM]

May 23, 22:30 Eastern (May 24, 02:30 UTC)

[Blue-Vision]

I'll have to catch it after I get home from work.

[DocM]

 

[Beittil]

I'll watch a replay when I get up 😛 No way I'll be awake for a 4.30 am launch 😂

[DocM]

BOOM!

 

 

[DocM]

The StarLink website is up. Tip: the globe is 3D, and movable. Just drag.

 

https://www.starlink.com/

 

[Jim K Global Moderator]

https://sattrackcam.blogspot.com/

[DocM]

Clearly, the 52 card pickup deployment works 😀

[DocM]

 

[DocM]

Each satellite is much smaller than the dot representing it (227kg, and the size of a small 'fridge), and several hundred kilometers separate adjacent satellites at the same altitude.

 

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Starlink VLEO Constellation

 

Mark Handley (Professor of Networked Systems - Department of Computer Science, University College London) 

 

Published on May 26, 2019

 

This simulation shows the orbits of all 11,927 satellites in the final proposed Starlink constellation.  

 

Red satellites are the initial 1,584 satellites at 550km altitude.  

 

White is 1,600 second phase satellites at 1,110km altitude and 53.8-degree inclination.  

 

Blue is 1,225 satellites in polar orbits.  

 

Yellow shows the final 7,518 satellites in 335km to 345km VLEO orbits, with inclinations of 53, 48 and 42 degrees.

 

 

 

 

Edited May 27, 2019 by DocM

[DocM]

Astrophysicist / programmer / gamer Scott Manley on StarLink and mega-constellations in general.

 

BTW: he has a very good YT channel.

 

 

 

[DocM]

StarLink impressed the DoD 😀

 

 

 

[DocM]

https://spacenews.com/spacex-says-more-starlink-orbits-will-speed-service-reduce-launch-needs/

 

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SpaceX says more Starlink orbits will speed service, reduce launch needs

 

WASHINGTON — SpaceX is asking federal regulators to allow it to spread out satellites in more rings around the Earth, saying the tweak to its orbital plans could bring coverage to the southern United States in time for next year’s hurricane season. 

In a filing to the U.S. Federal Communications Commission, SpaceX said it wants to triple the number of orbital planes at 550 kilometers, the altitude where its lowest layer of Ku- and Ka-band Starlink satellites are to operate.
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"The proposed respacing would require fewer launches of satellites — perhaps as few as half — to initiate service to the entire contiguous United States," SpaceX told the FCC Aug. 30. "Globally, the modification would enable more rapid coverage of all longitudes to grow toward the Equator, as well as bolstering capacity over in areas of greater population density."

Along with the contiguous 48 U.S. states, SpaceX said the new orbits would also speed service to Hawaii, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, the American Samoa, and the Northern Mariana Islands.
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In its filing, SpaceX said it "expects to conduct several more Starlink launches before the end of 2019."
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SpaceX's other authorizations allow for around 7,500 satellites between 335 and 346 kilometers, and around 2,800 satellites at altitudes between 1,110 and 1,325 kilometers. 
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[DocM]

They've cleared out most of their manifest backlog.

 

https://spacenews.com/spacex-plans-24-starlink-launches-next-year/

 

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SpaceX plans 24 Starlink launches next year

PARIS - SpaceX hopes to launch 24 Starlink missions in 2020 as the company builds out a broadband megaconstellation that could ultimately number close to 12,000 satellites, a company executive said Sept. 10. 

SpaceX's Starlink launch cadence will likely average two a month, in addition to customer launches, Gwynne Shotwell, SpaceX's president and chief operating officer, said at the World Satellite Business Week conference here. 

"Next year I hope we launch 24 Starlinks," Shotwell said. 

Shotwell said SpaceX may launch more Starlink missions this year, but the final number will depend on customer missions. SpaceX will prioritize launching customers before its own broadband satellites, she said. 

"If some customers move out, I'll have some Starlink launches  maybe up to four Starlink launches this year  but we won't push a customer out for that, so we will wait and see what the end of the year looks like and see what we can fit in."

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[DocM]

Boca Chica

 

The first of 3 new Starship/Super Heavy ringwalls (build stands) is almost ready to pour, targeting a total of 5.

 

This really is starting to look like a shipyard.

 

 

 

[DocM]

Confirmed - I have the filings

 

Thirty Thousand Satellites 😵

 

 

[Beittil]

Well... *insert that escalated quickly gif*

[DocM]

Space News has a write-up

 

https://spacenews.com/spacex-submits-paperwork-for-30000-more-starlink-satellites/

 

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SpaceX submits paperwork for 30,000 more Starlink satellites

 

WASHINGTON — SpaceX has asked the International Telecommunication Union to arrange spectrum for 30,000 additional Starlink satellites. 

 

SpaceX, which is already planning the world’s largest low-Earth-orbit broadband constellation by far, filed paperwork in recent weeks for up to 30,000 additional Starlink satellites on top of the 12,000 already approved by the U.S. Federal Communications Commission.

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Here is SpaceX’s full statement:

 

“As demand escalates for fast, reliable internet around the world, especially for those where connectivity is non-existent, too expensive or unreliable, SpaceX is taking steps to responsibly scale Starlink’s total network capacity and data density to meet the growth in users’ anticipated needs.”  

 

Edited October 16, 2019 by DocM