SpaceX navigates Q3 anomalies, starting ambitious Q4 goals
- by NASASpaceFlight.com
- Oct 13, 2024
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— SpaceX (@SpaceX) October 8, 2024
SpaceX also received approval to test its direct-to-cell satellite technology in New Zealand and the states of Oregon, Nevada, and Kansas. Starlink also passed the 4 million users worldwide and won a major contract from United Airlines to use it on its fleet of aircraft starting next year.
Coming up in the next quarter of the year, SpaceX will continue to grow its Starlink constellation with older groups of missions such as Starlink Group 6 missions making a comeback.
SpaceX also recently filed a modification to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) with an updated plan for the second-generation constellation of Starlink. This modification requests approval from the FCC to launch a new generation of satellites, Starlink v3, with improved hardware and power levels.
According to the documents provided by SpaceX to the FCC, these improvements and higher power levels would allow the satellites to deliver up to a gigabit per second of internet connectivity.
Caption: Technical narrative from SpaceX requesting the FCC for a modification of the Starlink second-generation constellation
These satellites would primarily launch on Starship, although the documentation suggests SpaceX would continue launching Starlink satellites on Falcon 9 under this modified plan. What’s not clear is whether this will be using a hypothetical Starlink v3 Mini satellite or using the current Starlink v2 Mini satellites.
The modified plan also seeks to change the operational orbits for these satellites, with the altitudes being lowered to anywhere between 470 and 480 kilometers. It also requests the FCC to change the inclination for one of the already-approved shells from 33 degrees inclination to 32 degrees.
The company argues this is in order to launch into this shell from Starbase saying “SpaceX requests authority to operate satellites in its 475 km shell at 32 degrees inclination to accommodate upcoming Starship launches of satellites for SpaceX’s Gen2 system from its Starbase launch facilities in Boca Chica, TX. If the Federal Aviation Administration (‘FAA’) does not allow for Starship launches at 32 degrees from Starbase, TX, SpaceX requests for authority to launch into the 28-degree inclination at 475 km altitude”.
SpaceX has not yet announced when it would first launch Starlink satellites on its Starship rocket but NSF understands this may not happen until the second flight with the second version of the Ship.
Starship
The company spent the third quarter of the year preparing its Starship rocket for the vehicle’s fifth flight.
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