The world of satellite technology was abuzz recently when SpaceX announced the successful launch of two dozen of their mini-satellites, aptly named ‘Starlink’, from Cape Canaveral in Florida. The momentous event marks a major milestone for the company and for the satellite industry at large, as these minisatellites are the first of their kind.
The Starlink minisatellites are a significant departure from larger, more traditional satellite designs. Measuring around the size of a briefcase (205 cm X 35 cm X 43 cm), they weigh only 263 kg compared to the mass of larger telecommunications satellites which can be a hefty 8-tonne. The lighter weight of the mini satellites makes them more nimble in space and easier to launch, and cheaper to orbit.
The Starlink minisatellites are part of a bigger picture for SpaceX. As the company ventures into the business of providing high-speed internet to the world, their entire constellation of over 12,000 satellites—once launched—will form a network of orbiting low-earth satellites. Their purpose? To provide uninterrupted, high-speed internet to underserved regions across the globe.
SpaceX’s Starlink satellite launch marks the first time we’ve seen the mini-satellites in orbit—an image released by the company shows them in all their glory. As for their performance, the satellites are flying and beaming back data, so it appears that the mission is going according to plan.
The Starlink satellite launch is just one step in SpaceX’s mission to provide low-latency internet to the four corners of the globe. It’s an ambitious mission, but they have the resources and the commitment necessary to make it a reality. And with the successful launch of the mini-satellites, SpaceX is off to a good start in their mission to provide a low-cost, high-speed, and reliable internet network to the world.
