SpaceX Launched a Rocket Carrying 53 Satellites:
SpaceX recently launched a rocket carrying 53 satellites for the Starlink internet constellation from California Onboard Falcon 9 rocket.
- SpaceX has already launched more than 2,500 Starlink satellites to date but plans to loft many more.
- The Starlink network is one of several ongoing efforts to start beaming data signals from space.
- Under the project, the company intends to evolve into a constellation of nearly 12,000 satellites.
- The aim is to provide low-cost and reliable space-based Internet services to the world.
- LEO satellites are positioned around 500km-2000km from earth, compared to stationary orbit satellites which are approximately 36,000km away.
- As LEO satellites orbit closer to the earth, they are able to provide stronger signals and faster speeds than traditional fixed-satellite systems.
- Because signals travel faster through space than through fibre-optic cables, they also have the potential to rival if not exceed existing ground-based networks.
SpaceX:
- SpaceX is an American space manufacturer, a provider of space transportation services, and a communications corporation headquartered in Hawthorne, California. SpaceX was founded in 2002 by Elon Musk with the goal of reducing space transportation costs to enable the colonization of Mars.
- SpaceX manufactures the Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy launch vehicles, several rocket engines, Cargo Dragon, crew spacecraft, and Starlink communications satellites.
- SpaceX is developing a satellite internet constellation named Starlink to provide commercial internet service.
- In January 2020, the Starlink constellation became the largest satellite constellation ever launched, and as of May 2022
