SpaceX launches 60 Starlink Broadband Satellites

Elon Musk’s aerospace company, SpaceX, launched 60 Starlink Broadband Satellites with Falcon 9 first stage booster into the orbit. Satellites were launched from Space Launch Complex 40 in Florida.

Background

This two-stage-to-orbit had also launched Sentinel-6A mission earlier.

Highlights

It was 13th Starlink launch in 2021 for SpaceX.  70 meters tall, Falcon 9 rocket was successfully lift-off marking the fourth time SpaceX launched a batch of Starlink satellites in a bid to expand flourishing broadband constellation. SpaceX will launch its next mission dubbed as “space station resupply mission” on June 3, 2021.

SpaceX’s reusable Space vehicles

It was 85th landing by SpaceX’s reusable launch system development program. SpaceX has been developing technologies since several years to provide a system of rapid reusable launch of space vehicles. Usually, first stage of Vehicle does not return after a launch but SpaceX has developed a technology through which vehicle returns, few hours after mission is launched, for reuse.

Starlink Satellites

Starlinks are satellite internet constellation, constructed by SpaceX, providing satellite Internet access. Constellation comprise of thousands of mass-produced small satellites in low Earth orbit (LEO). These satellites communicate with designated ground transceivers. Development of starlink started in 2015 and its Two prototype test-flight satellites were launched in 2018. In May 2019, it deployed 60 operational satellites.

Month: Current Affairs - May, 2021