With Monday night launch, SpaceX to become the world's largest satellite operator, Ars Technica

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/This Falcon 9 rocket has launched three times, including on the Telstar VANTAGE (mission in) .

SpaceX

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(************************** (SpaceX launched two batches of) ************************************************** 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 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: (pm ET Monday) (****************************************************************: (UTC Tuesday), SpaceX will have a constellation of nearly (satellites in low-Earth orbit, each weighing a little more than kg. 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.

Becoming a satellite operator has not been without its challenges for SpaceX. It has had to work closely with the Air Force’s 20 th Space Control Squadron to track its Starlink satellites and ensure they do not collide with other satellites on orbit. SpaceX has also faced a backlash of criticism from astronomers and dark sky advocates who say its “trains” of satellites have polluted the sky. In response, SpaceX has said it will take steps to make the satellites less visible and disruptive to nighttime skies.

The potential reward for the company, however, is sizable. With its burgeoning constellation, SpaceX has surged ahead of OneWeb and several other competitors seeking to develop low-latency Internet from space. With its highly reusable Falcon 9 rocket first stage, SpaceX also has a decided cost advantage in terms of getting its satellites into space. Capturing just 3 percent of the global Internet market could bring in about $ billion in revenue.

Monday night’s launch attempt will occur on a Falcon 9 first stage that has flown three times previously, in September (Telstar************************************ VANTAGE ), January (Iridium-8), and May 01575879 (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 km.

A webcast of the mission should begin about (minutes prior to launch.)

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