SpaceX StarLink's first batch of satellites already in Florida for launch

First and foremost, the confirmation by SpaceX that the first batch of Starlink satellites is already in Florida makes it clear that the company's Internet satellite constellation is about to become very real. This constellation has long been the subject of endless skepticism and criticism, dominated by a general atmosphere of dismissal. There is no question that Starlink, as proposed, is an extremely ambitious program that will cost billions of dollars, even to begin to materialize. SpaceX will need to find ways to manufacture and run approximately 11,900 satellites at a nominal cost, weighing approximately 500 metric tons, in just nine years from start to finish.

By November 2018, there were about 2,000 satellites in Earth orbit, which means that SpaceX's complete Starlink constellation would increase the number of functional satellites in orbit by seven. The first phase of Starlink (4409 satellites) would have more than tripled the number of active satellites in orbit. To meet the contractual requirement that SpaceX launch at least half of the Starlink-licensed satellites within six years of the FCC's granting of the constellation license, the company will need to launch an average of 39, about 37 satellites per month by April 2024. By April 2027, SpaceX will either have to launch all ~ 2200 Phase 1 satellites remaining, or risk losing its Starlink constellation license. The same is true for the approximately 7,500 very low Earth orbit (VLEO) satellites that make up Phase 2 of Starlink, although their launch dates have been respected. November of 2024 and 2027.

In fact, if SpaceX wishes to keep the FCC's separate license for its Starlink VLEO segment, it will actually have to create and run an average of 100 satellites per month – 20+ per week – for the next five years. In no case, form, or form is the monthly output of 100 unprecedented complex machines. However, it is quite unprecedented – and no less than 10 times – in the spaceflight and satellite industries. Achieving this feat will require many paradigm shifts in satellite design, manufacturing, and operations. It's hard to think of anyone up to the challenge of SpaceX, but it will always be an extremely difficult and expensive undertaking.

"No baby

According to SpaceX, the first 75 Starlink operational satellites will be significantly less refined than those that follow. In particular, they will avoid dual band phased array antennas (Ku and Ka), to rely solely on Ka-band communications. The second main difference concerns "demobilization", with reference to the characteristics presented at the start of the school year. The first 75 spacecraft will be less refined and will therefore have a handful of components that should survive the rigors of re-entry into the Earth's atmosphere, creating a very small risk of property damage and / or human injury. The following Starlink vehicles will incorporate design changes to ensure that 100% of each satellite is incinerated during re-entry, posing a ~ 0% risk in the field.

In a sense, the first 75 Starlink satellites will be a detailed demonstration of the constellation proposed by SpaceX. Depending on how the satellites are deployed in orbit, the SpaceX development team could potentially have uninterrupted access to the orbiting mini-constellation. It will also be possible to constantly test the SpaceX network architecture, including downstream / uplink traffic, surge management, satellite transfers and laser interconnects to connect all Starlink satellites to a giant mesh network.

SpaceX has not yet announced the exact number of Starlink satellites that will be aboard Falcon 9 during the first internal launch of the rocket. More likely, the limiting factor will be the usable volume of the SpaceX payload fairing, measuring 5.2 m (17 ft) in diameter. For flight 1, 10-20 satellites is a reasonable estimate. With a total weight of approximately 10,000 kg (22,000 lbs), Starlink's first payload will be delivered to a parking orbit of approximately 350 km, allowing the Falcon 9 to return to the SpaceX landing zone in Florida. or to land softly on the drone. Of course, I still love you (OCISLY). Satellites will use their own electric Hall thrusters to reach their final destination (550 km).

According to Elon Musk, CEO of SpaceX, the first reuse of the Falcon 9 fairing could also take place during the Starlink internal launch, although it is not known if he was referring to Starlink Launch 1 (Starlink-1) or to a follow-up mission later this year.