Space X second use Fairing deployment along with another 60 Starlink satellites
Space X second use Fairing deployment along with another 60 Starlink satellites
SpaceX launched another 60 Starlink satellites with a series of new firsts. This launch was the first time SpaceX reused a fairing. This launch was the first time SpaceX reused the Falcon 9 4 times. They have a 10 use design limit.
This second set of Starlink satellites has a number of upgrades. Starlink will eventually provide global internet at similar speeds to existing networks. The satellites will orbit at an altitude of 550km which reduces their latency the 600 ms of other higher internet satellites down to 35 ms.
The satellites have fully autonomous collision avoidance and are fully demisable. This means they will burn up when they are at their end of life rather than crashing into the ground. This set has double the array of steerable broadband beers as well as a 400% increase in data through put per satellite. They also have a new k-a band antenna system which is suppose to improve operating in rainy conditions.
Internet service will be available for the Northern U.S. and Canada next year with global expansion after another 24 launches.
