SpaceX Launches Starlink V2 Satellites to Increase Internet Bandwidth

A new generation of Starlink internet satellites will orbit at low altitudes and eventually re-enter the Earth’s atmosphere, limiting the amount of interference in orbit.

A rocket carrying 21 next-generation Starlink satellites was successfully launched into orbit yesterday at 6:13 pm EST from Cape Canaveral, Florida.

On a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket flight, the Starlink internet service crossed two milestones: it marked the launch of the first second-generation satellite and a total project launch of more than 4,000 satellites.

Starlink is a division of SpaceX, the company founded by Elon Musk. It provides fast Internet connections from the sky, unlike traditional connections that use underwater pipelines and underground fiber optic cables to provide broadband connectivity to homes and businesses.

Its services have become especially important in Ukraine, where Russia has disrupted traditional Internet connections. In December 2022, the FCC authorized Starlink to install up to 7,500 new satellites.

The V2 Mini versions, which are smaller than the original versions of Starlink, have four times the capacity to provide users with high-speed internet, according to their manufacturer. This is due to a more efficient array of antennas and the use of radio frequencies between 71 and 86 GHz, called the E band. according to SpaceX. The company said the new satellites “represents a step forward in Starlink capabilities”.

The new satellites will orbit Earth at an altitude of less than 600 kilometers, meaning they will eventually break apart and re-enter the planet’s atmosphere, limiting the amount of debris left orbiting Earth. Astronomers have previously expressed concern that large constellations of satellites will affect the ability to see stars in the night sky.

Lower orbit also has advantages over geostationary satellites, which have so far been the main provider of satellite internet connectivity, says Doug Madori of Kentik, a company that monitors internet performance. Geostationary satellites orbit the Earth at high altitudes—about 35,800 kilometers—which adds to the latency, or time it takes to send and receive information on the Internet. Low-orbit satellites like Starlink provide lower latency by using more satellites closer to the surface, Madori said.

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