SpaceX is launching the first group of its new Starlink generation, and the event can be viewed for free. The launch will feature a Falcon 9 rocket carrying a collection of Gen2 Starlink 5-1 satellite and is scheduled for 4:30 AM EST at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. The launch can be watched for free on SpaceX's website, starting about 5 minutes before takeoff.
This launch signifies the start of the upgraded version of Starlink's network. According to SpaceX, the new license allows them to deploy satellites to new orbits, increasing the network's capacity and enabling them to add more customers and provide faster service, especially in areas where demand currently exceeds the network's capabilities.
As of December 27, the weather forecast for the launch is favorable, with a 90% chance of good conditions. However, SpaceX is keeping an eye on the sea conditions for the booster's recovery. If the launch proceeds as planned, it will be SpaceX's 60th launch of 2022, significantly more than the 31 launches they conducted in 2021.
Falcon 9 10th Flight
During a typical Starlink launch, the Falcon 9 rocket sends the satellites to low Earth orbit, and the first stage lands on a drone ship in the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Florida about eight minutes later. This particular launch aims to land on a drone ship called "A Shortfall of Gravitas."
This will be the 10th flight for the Falcon 9 first stage in this mission. According to SpaceX, the booster has previously flown four Starlink missions, launched two US GPS satellites, carrying a commercial satellite called Nilesat 301, and transported two different groups of private astronauts on the Inspiration4 and Ax-1 missions.
The Gen2 version of Starlink is reported to be more powerful than the current 3,300 satellites in orbit. It seems that SpaceX needs this increased capability as the broadband network is experiencing congestion issues, according to a recent report by SpaceNews. Despite launching hundreds of first-generation Starlink satellites this year, the network is still struggling to meet demand.
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Fulfilling SpaceX's Starlink 2.0 Application
On December 1, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) granted SpaceX approval to deploy 7,500 Gen2 satellites. However, this is just a partial approval as SpaceX has applied to the FCC for permission to launch almost 30,000 of these satellites to low Earth orbit.
The FCC's approval is only a partial victory for SpaceX, as the company had applied for permission to launch 29,988 Starlink 2.0 satellites. The FCC has deferred a decision on the rest of the requested satellites. The limited approval was granted "to address concerns about orbital debris and space safety," according to the FCC's decision document. These and other issues were raised by "interested parties" concerning SpaceX's Starlink 2.0 application, which was filed in 2020.
In addition to handling more traffic, Gen2 satellites can transmit service directly to smartphones, according to SpaceX founder Elon Musk. While this group of satellites is being launched on a Falcon 9 rocket, SpaceX eventually plans to use its large Starship rocket for these launches. The Starship rocket is currently in development and has been waiting for approval to fly to space for 18 months.
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