UNITED STATES: SpaceX achieved another significant milestone by successfully launching 48 Starlink internet satellites into orbit on July 7.
The Falcon 9 rocket took off from California’s Vandenberg Space Force Base, piercing through a thick layer of fog to reach space.
In an impressive display of engineering, the rocket’s first stage made a vertical landing on the SpaceX drone ship, Of Course, I Still Love You, stationed in the Pacific Ocean. This marked the 12th successful launch and landing for this particular booster.
The Falcon 9’s upper stage continued its journey, deploying the Starlink satellites to their destination in low Earth orbit (LEO). SpaceX anticipated that all 48 satellites would be deployed approximately 19 minutes after liftoff.
This launch brings the total number of Starlink satellites placed into space by SpaceX to over 4,700, with the majority already operational, according to astrophysicist and satellite tracker Jonathan McDowell.
However, SpaceX has plans for even more satellite deployments in the near future. The company has approval to launch approximately 12,000 additional satellites for its Starlink mega constellation in LEO and has even applied for permission to deploy an additional 30,000 satellites on top of that.
While the Starlink project aims to provide global internet coverage, it has faced criticism from astronomers who argue that the dense constellation obstructs their night sky observations.
The proliferation of satellites in the sky can interfere with astronomical observations, impacting the accuracy and quality of scientific research.
Astronomers have also raised concerns about the long-term sustainability of space operations due to the increasing number of satellites. The presence of Starlink and other satellite constellations raises the risk of collisions in space, leading to the creation of significant space debris that poses threats to operational satellites and crewed spacecraft.
Starlink satellites have already conducted 25,000 collision-avoidance maneuvers in the past six months alone, and this number will inevitably rise as more satellites are launched.
As SpaceX continues to expand its Starlink network, the company faces the challenge of balancing the benefits of global internet connectivity with the potential negative impacts on scientific research and space sustainability.
The concerns raised by astronomers and experts highlight the importance of ongoing dialogue and collaboration between space agencies, private companies, and the scientific community to ensure the responsible and sustainable use of space resources.
The successful launch and landing of the Starlink satellites demonstrate SpaceX’s technical expertise and progress in space exploration.
Moving forward with its ambitious plans, addressing the challenges associated with space debris and preserving our skies for scientific discovery and future space missions remains essential.
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