SpaceX Delivers Third Batch of Starlink Satellites Despite Weather Delays
SpaceX successfully launches another 60 Starlink satellites into orbit, bringing its total constellation to around 240 spacecraft. The mission faces initial weather delays but ultimately advances the company's goal of providing global broadband internet by late 2020.
SpaceX successfully launches its third batch of 60 Starlink satellites into low Earth orbit after weather delays push the mission from Monday to Wednesday. This delivery brings the total number of production satellites in the constellation to around 240, solidifying SpaceX's position as the largest private satellite operator in the world. Each 600-pound satellite features an onboard propulsion system and is designed to burn up completely in Earth's atmosphere to leave behind zero space debris.
The flat design of the Starlink satellites allows SpaceX to efficiently pack and launch 60 at a time atop a single Falcon 9 rocket. The company plans to build an extensive network of up to 10,000 or more spacecraft with the ultimate goal of blanketing the globe in affordable and reliable broadband internet. SpaceX aims to begin offering consumer internet service to customers in the United States and Canada by the end of the year.
Despite the rapid progress of the deployment, SpaceX faces ongoing criticism from the scientific community regarding the impact of the satellites on astronomical observations from Earth. In response to these concerns, SpaceX is actively testing dark-colored coatings on the Earth-facing sides of the satellites to reduce their reflectivity. The company is also sharing its orbital schedule data with researchers to help mitigate potential disruptions to ground-based telescope observations.