A Falcon 9 rocket successfully launched from Cape Canaveral, carrying a payload of 21 Starlink satellites into orbit on Saturday morning. Among these satellites, 13 are equipped with direct-to-cell capability, marking the 187th launch of the company’s Starlink internet relay satellites.
The purpose of these satellites is to provide communication services in high-latitude regions that are not adequately covered by traditional geosynchronous satellites.
With this latest launch, the total number of Starlinks launched has reached 6,854, with 6,239 of them believed to be operational prior to Saturday’s mission, according to space statistician Jonathan McDowell.
The purpose of these satellites is to provide communication services in high-latitude regions that are not adequately covered by traditional geosynchronous satellites.
With this latest launch, the total number of Starlinks launched has reached 6,854, with 6,239 of them believed to be operational prior to Saturday’s mission, according to space statistician Jonathan McDowell.
SpaceX has plans for two additional launches on Sunday. One will take place at the Kennedy Space Center, aiming to deploy 23 more Starlinks into orbit.
The other launch will occur at Vandenberg Space Force Base in California, with the objective of carrying Norway Space‘s twin Arctic Satellite Broadband Mission relay stations into a highly elliptical orbit.