Starlink Satellites With Four Times The Capacity Are Launched By SpaceX

As it updates and expands its orbiting network, Elon Musk's SpaceX has launched the first batch of its next-generation Starlink broadband satellites.

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On Monday, 21 of the "V2 Mini" satellites, as they are often known, were sent into orbit by a Falcon 9 rocket. The Federal Communications Commission approved Starlink's "Gen2" plans in December, and the satellites are the first iteration of those plans.

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Musk published a video of the V2 Small satellites being launched into orbit by the rocket. The new spacecraft are larger and heavier than the first-generation models, so each Falcon 9 launch carries fewer than the 50 to 60 satellites that the first-generation versions could lift off at once. The business intends to employ its currently under development Starship rocket in the future for second-generation Starlink missions.

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Before the launch, SpaceX emphasized the upgraded capabilities of the V2 Minis, including their "more powerful phased array antennae" and "new argon Hall thrusters" for orbital manoeuvring. According to the business, compared to earlier generations, the V2 Mini satellites add nearly four times as much network capacity per satellite.

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Significantly, Monday also marked the 100th straight time since Feb. 16, 2021, that SpaceX has attempted and successfully landed a Falcon 9 rocket booster following a launch. In 2023, the business will launch an orbital rocket on average every four days, an unprecedented number of launches.

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In December, the company's network attracted 1 million members across a range of product offerings, including services for residential, commercial, RV, maritime, and aviation users. The company has launched over 4,000 Starlink satellites to date.

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Based on capacity needs, SpaceX modified the home Starlink service's cost last week.

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