1. How quickly is the cadence of Starlink launches increasing?
SpaceX Continues Rapid Starlink Launch Cadence with Group 2-5 Mission
SpaceX continues their mission to provide enhanced global internet with their Starlink constellation, having launched their Group 2-5 mission on the 13th of April. This marks their fourth launch this month and the third mission in a week.
About the Mission
This mission is composed of 60 satellites of the Starlink constellation, weighing a total of ~18.8 tons. These satellites completed another successful launch from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida. To reimburse the cost of the mission, SpaceX will not be using a reusable first stage Falcon 9 rocket but burning this first stage instead.
What Is the Starlink Mission?
The Starlink mission is the primary satellite constellation of SpaceX. It is to offer high-speed internet to all parts of the world.
Currently, Starlink has launched 5 batch of satellites, with a total of ~ 1390 deployed in space. SpaceX plans to assemble a total of ~12000 satellites to form a cloak over the entire globe and provide seamless internet access to all.
SpaceX plans to deploy the sats in 3 orbital planes, with the ultimate goal to provide global coverage of the internet in 2021.
Why Is Reusability Important?
Reusability is key to lowering launch costs and maximizing the economic viability of satellite launches. A reusable Falcon 9 first stage has significantly lower costs compared to a one-time-use rocket. By reusing this piece of technology, SpaceX reduces the cost of the mission and gets a good return on their investments.
What’s Next?
SpaceX is continuing the rapid launch cadence for the Starlink mission with their Group 2-6 mission planned for 16 April. This mission will deploy an additional 60 satellites to the Starlink constellation, with the aim to provide better global internet coverage in the future.
Additionally, SpaceX is also planning to commence the Starship Program soon, with future missions planned to Mars, the Moon and more.
Facts and Figures
Here are some facts and figures about the mission:
- SpaceX has launched a total of ~1390 satellites for the Starlink mission
- SpaceX plans to deploy ~12,000 satellites for the mission
- The Group 2-5 mission marked the fourth launch this month and the third mission in a week
- The mission was launched from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida
- The total launch weight of the mission was ~18.8 tons
With the successful launch of group 2-5 mission, SpaceX takes another step closer to achieving their goal of providing global internet coverage. With their plans to launch the Starship mission soon, they are set to take the satellite industry to the next level.
Elon Musk’s SpaceX is at it again, continuing their rapid Starlink launch cadence with the launch of Group 2-5 mission. The mission, which took place on December 12, 2020, from Cape Canaveral in Florida, was a complete success.
The launch, which included another batch of sixty-eight highly capable Starlink internet satellites, got off to a smooth start as the Falcon 9 rocket soared through the sky, carrying the satellites in its payload to low-Earth orbit. The first stage of the rocket also returned to earth successfully and made a controlled landing on one of SpaceX’s droneships offshore.
These ongoing launches also allowed Musk to complete the first Low-Earth Orbit (LEO) broadband internet delivery system, connecting countries and continents worldwide. In addition, the Starlink constellation will further expand, allowing reliable high-speed internet access worldwide.
The launch cadence of Musk’s futuristic objective, the Starlink constellation, is unprecedented in its pace. Since the first Starlink mission in May 2019, the company has launched over 850 satellites and have plans to launch over 12,000 satellites by 2024. The success of the Starlink mission clearly demonstrates that Musk is on a mission to “democratize space” by providing high-speed and reliable satellite internet to everyone across the globe.
The mission’s success not only marks SpaceX’s focus on their current goals and objectives, but also gives a clear preview of their target of putting enough satellites into LEO by the year 2021 to enable Starlink customers in the northern United States and Canada with consistent service, followed by countries in the rest of the world.
SpaceX has successfully launched the Group 2-5 mission and has managed to maintain a record breaking launch frequency. SpaceX is continuously pushing the boundaries of modern space exploration and exploration, making it easier and more affordable to access orbital space than ever before. The company’s hard work and dedication is showing profound results, and with their continued attempts to reach the edges of the universe, the future looks very bright indeed.
