SpaceX Continues Starlink Satellite Deployments

SpaceX has recently conducted another launch, adding to its growing Starlink constellation. This ongoing series of launches demonstrates the company’s commitment to rapidly expanding its broadband network in low Earth orbit.

Recent Launch Activity

A total of 300 Starlink satellites have been launched since March 4th. These satellites were deployed across five separate missions, each carrying 60 satellites.

The launches occurred on March 4th, March 11th, March 14th, and March 24th, with the most recent launch following this schedule. This accelerated launch cadence is deliberate, as SpaceX intends to launch approximately 1,500 Starlink satellites throughout the current year.

Prior to this intensive period, four additional Starlink missions were completed. One of these missions was a rideshare launch, accommodating satellites belonging to other clients alongside the Starlink payload.

Constellation Size and Management

Currently, SpaceX has successfully launched 1,443 satellites for the Starlink constellation. However, the number of satellites actively in orbit is slightly lower.

A small number of the initial satellites have been intentionally deorbited as part of the planned operational procedures. The ultimate goal is to establish a constellation comprising up to 42,000 spacecraft, based on existing filings with the FCC regarding frequency spectrum allocation.

Collaboration with NASA

SpaceX and NASA have formalized a new agreement to prevent potential close encounters or collisions between their respective spacecraft.

While NASA already has established protocols for launch providers to mitigate collision risks, the frequency and scale of SpaceX’s Starlink missions necessitated a more detailed and comprehensive understanding.

Booster and Fairing Recovery

The Falcon 9 booster utilized in this launch successfully landed for the seventh time. It touched down on SpaceX’s designated landing platform in the Atlantic Ocean.

The booster will undergo refurbishment to prepare it for potential future reuse. SpaceX is also actively pursuing methods for recovering the fairing halves – the protective shields for the satellites during ascent – from the ocean after splashdown, aiming for their re-utilization.

Previously, the company experimented with catching the fairing halves mid-air using specialized ships, but has since decommissioned those vessels.

Image Credits: SpaceX