image credit SpaceX
SpaceX has called a scrub of its planned Falcon 9 Starlink launch from Kennedy Space Center for a second night in a row. The company is looking at an issue with the transporter erector's cradle arms. This the structure that brings the rocket to an upright position. It is supposed to retract before launch. SpaceX states that everything else seems to be in good condition.
The Thursday night scrub comes after an exciting day for SpaceX. Not only was it their 22nd anniversary, but they also celebrated the Starship test flight success from Boca Chica, Texas.
During the mission, 23 Starlink satellites were supposed to be launched from the Kennedy Space Center. This comes after SpaceX also stopped the countdown and scrubbed the launch Wednesday night. The next launch attempt could be as early as Friday, according to SpaceX.
It will be the 19th liftoff (and landing) for this Falcon 9's first stage booster (B1062), according to a SpaceX mission description. That will tie a mark set this past December and matched for the first time last month.
Attempts on Wednesday and Thursday both ended without explanation when the countdown entered an unplanned hold with just minutes remaining.
If all goes according to plan, the Falcon 9's first stage will come back to Earth about 8.5 minutes after liftoff, landing on the droneship A Shortfall of Gravitas, which will be stationed in the Atlantic Ocean.
The Falcon 9's upper stage will continue hauling the 23 Starlink satellites to low Earth orbit, where they will be deployed about 65.5 minutes after liftoff.
image credit SpaceX
Starlink is a satellite internet service developed by SpaceX, aiming to provide high-speed, low-latency broadband internet globally, especially in remote and rural areas.
Here's a brief overview:
Initiative: Starlink is part of SpaceX, founded by Elon Musk, and it seeks to create a global broadband network through a constellation of low Earth orbit (LEO) satellites.
How It Works: The service uses radio signals transmitted between ground stations and satellites, which then relay data back to users on Earth.
Satellites: Each satellite weighs 573 pounds and has a flat design. A single Falcon 9 rocket can deploy up to 60 satellites at a time.
Network Goals: The aim is to establish a low-latency network with nearly 42,000 satellites to facilitate edge computing and provide tight network coverage.
Speed: Starlink offers speeds up to 150 Mbps, suitable for streaming, gaming, and general internet use.
Availability: As of September 2022, Starlink is available in many countries and is expanding its services to mobile sites, vehicles, and even airlines.
Cost: Service starts at $110 per month with a one-time hardware cost of $599.
Starlink's approach differs from traditional satellite internet providers by using thousands of smaller satellites in lower orbits, which improves speed and reduces latency. Additionally, the latest satellites feature laser communication to reduce reliance on ground stations.
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