Starlink Satellites Set to Test Broadband Internet Services

SpaceX has been frequently mentioned in the news since the successful launch of Crew Dragon carrying American astronauts Doug Hurley and Bob Behnken. However, the company has not been resting on its success. SpaceX has been launching satellites into low Earth orbit since May 2019, with over 500 Starlink satellites in orbit, with more to be launched in coming weeks.

The goal of the Starlink satellites is to provide high speed, low latency internet to “near global coverage of the populated world by 2021,” according to the Starlink website.

SpaceX has recently announced that trials of the satellite-based internet could start this summer. Users can sign up with their email address and zip code to receive additional information once the system is available in their area.

“Half the world—predominantly poor and rural communities—still has no internet access, or suffers from poor connectivity and prohibitively expensive services,” reports Adriana Hamacher for Decrypt.

Starlink is also looking to provide low cost internet to urban areas, with Seattle currently topping the list as a potential location for testing, reports Hamacher.

Orbiting around 550 km into Earth’s orbit, the satellites utilize the latest technology:

• Ion thrusters, powered by krypton, enable the satellites to reposition as needed and deorbit at the end of their life. Starlink satellites are the first to utilize krypton as a form of propulsion.
• Autonomous systems from the Department of Defense have been integrated into the satellites to help avoid space debris or other spacecraft, providing autonomous collision avoidance.
• Custom-built navigation sensors provide each satellite information on its altitude, allowing for precision placement of broadband communications.

With a goal of making space flight more accessible and efficient, SpaceX is utilizing their Falcon 9 rocket to launch the Starlink satellites. Falcon 9’s boosters are reusable, saving on the prohibitive cost of replacing boosters with every launch. Starlink launches have occurred nearly monthly since January 2020, with multiple launches occurring in June 2020.

Elon Musk, SpaceX CEO, has historically said his goal is to turn around launches within 24 hours. According to SpaceXStats, the fastest turnaround for a refurbished booster is over 62.5 days.

Capitol Tech students studying astronautical engineering take courses in space systems engineering, spacecraft attitude and control, satellite communications, and propulsion, preparing them to work with satellites and other spacecraft.

Want to learn more about astronautical engineering? Capitol Tech offers a bachelor’s degree in Astronautical Engineering and master’s and doctoral degrees in Aviation. Contact admissions@captechu.edu to learn more.