Monday [27 Feb 2023], SpaceX launched the first batch of their next-gen Starlink Satellites for more connectivity. From the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station of Florida, 21 of the mini Starlink satellites have been launched atop Falcon 9. The launch was delayed by 5 hours due to some space weather concerns.
SpaceX V2 Starlink Satellites
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Launching these 21 mini-satellites was a test to fit Falcon 9 of SpaceX onboard. The full version of the Starlink V2 satellites will be launched in batches aboard the giant Starship Mars Rocket of SpaceX, but that is not yet in operation.
Elon Musk – Founder and CEO of SpaceX, has said that the full-size V2 satellites are much more capable and extensive than the 21 mini-satellites. Each of the V2 Starlink satellites will weigh 1.25 tons and be capable of sending services directly to cell phones. V2 mini satellites are even smaller in size and capabilities, but these are still more capable than other SpaceX Starlink Satellites.
SpaceX, through their Twitter, shared that the V2 Satellites will be featured with more powerful vital features such as the use of E-band for backhaul and more powerful phased array antennas, which will enable 4x more capacity per satellite than others.
It must be noted that SpaceX has launched more than 4,000 Starlink satellites for internet service worldwide, and they are planning to launch many more. The company has permission to deploy 12000 satellites, but they have applied for another 30,000 deployments.
