SpaceX Sends 60 More Starlink Satellites Into Orbit To Provide Global Internet
Elon Musk’s SpaceX company has launched another 60 satellites in its Starlink network.
Taking the total tally of spacecraft the firm has put in the sky to 182. With the help of these spacecraft, the California-based company aims to provide a global broadband internet service.
The spacecraft went up on a Falcon-9 rocket, which left from Cape Canaveral in Florida. With the latest additions, SpaceX now operates more commercial satellites in orbit than any other company. Planet Labs, also based in California, has around 150 spacecraft (second highest) which are used to image the Earth’s surface. SpaceX has permission to launch up to 12,000 spacecraft from the regulators but could go up to 40,000. To address the complaints of astronomers who complain of “cosmos view being ruined” due to the presence of a large number of artificial objects in the night sky, scientists have been releasing pictures of reflections from the satellites as they move around the globe. SpaceX says once, in their final orbit, the spacecraft should be barely visible and the company is trying experimental coating to further reduce its reflectivity. There are 2,200 working satellites of all types in the sky, according to the Union of Concerned Scientists.
Successful deployment of 60 Starlink satellites confirmed! pic.twitter.com/hA8eUp7dNI
— SpaceX (@SpaceX) January 7, 2020
The spacecraft went up on a Falcon-9 rocket, which left from Cape Canaveral in Florida. With the latest additions, SpaceX now operates more commercial satellites in orbit than any other company. Planet Labs, also based in California, has around 150 spacecraft (second highest) which are used to image the Earth’s surface. SpaceX has permission to launch up to 12,000 spacecraft from the regulators but could go up to 40,000. To address the complaints of astronomers who complain of “cosmos view being ruined” due to the presence of a large number of artificial objects in the night sky, scientists have been releasing pictures of reflections from the satellites as they move around the globe. SpaceX says once, in their final orbit, the spacecraft should be barely visible and the company is trying experimental coating to further reduce its reflectivity. There are 2,200 working satellites of all types in the sky, according to the Union of Concerned Scientists.
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