SpaceX has to its credit a new generation of Starlink satellites, developed with the aim of improving communication capacity and providing a faster and more reliable Internet connection to people in rural areas or with limited access to high-quality Internet. .
Scheduled for launch later this year, these satellites will use advanced technology and have the ability to reduce the amount of light reflections that can sometimes interfere with your Internet signal.
SpaceX prepares the launch of its second generation of Starlink satellites
So far, SpaceX has launched more than 3,600 Starlink satellites, using Falcon 9 rockets. Of those, an estimated 3,300 of the 4,408 Gen1 satellites authorized by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) are still in orbit.
The FCC recently awarded Starlink a partial permission to use 7,500 of the nearly 30,000 satellites planned in its Gen2 network, starting December 1, 2022. According to the release schedule Shared by SpaceX, the company plans to send a new Starlink mission on December 28, an act that will be subject to weather conditions and other technical factors.
Starlink’s new satellites are equipped with silver ion propulsion engines, to allow greater flexibility and control in their orbit. In addition, these satellites are expected to be smaller and lighter than previous models, making them easier and cheaper to launch into space.
In addition to improving the quality of your Internet connection, the new generation of Starlink satellites also aims to reduce the latency of your connection, which means that the delay between sending an Internet request and receiving a response will be minor. This improvement will be of great relevance for activities that require a quick response, such as online games, live broadcasts and video calls.
Outside of providing a better connection to its users, another possible use for these satellites is monitoring and observing the environment. These satellites can collect astronomical information and data on the climate, pollution, deforestation and other factors that can have an impact on the environment. These data can be used by scientists and decision makers, in order to take measures to protect the environment and to face the current climate crisis with a global perspective.
Starlink’s new satellites were designed to be more resilient to failure and have a longer lifespan. Thanks to this condition, they will be less prone to technical problems and will be able to provide Internet services for longer without needing to be replaced.
In keeping with SpaceX’s aspirations, Starlink satellites may be used to provide communication and connectivity services to human colonies in space, such as a lunar base or space station. However, for this to be truly viable, the service offered still needs to be consolidated. Given the growth in popularity of this service, there have been reports collapses in your networkwhich to date has more than one million active subscribers, compared to the 250,000 that the company declared it had in March.
