Over four years ago, in Jan. 2015, SpaceX announced that it was planning on the creation and eventual deployment of a global network of communications satellites through which Internet access would be offered.
The constellation of satellites, known as Starlink, is slated to consist of just short of 12,000 satellites. These satellites will be rolled out over roughly a four-year period.
Just a few days ago, SpaceX founder and Chief Executive Officer Elon Musk shared with the world a look at its Starlink Internet satellites before they were slated to be launched into lower Earth orbit. Musk shared an image of the very first 60 Starlink satellites via Twitter on May 11, 2019.
It’s clear that the 60 aforementioned satellites will barely fit inside SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket.
Each of the satellites, which consist of a wide, flat panel to which antennas are attached, as well as a solar panel to keep them running, is said to weigh about 227 kilograms.
Although humans are considered to be wildly obese if they weigh 227 kilograms, these SpaceX Starlink Internet satellites are actually significantly less heavy and smaller than traditional satellites.
These satellites also contain Hall thrusters, also known as Hall-effect thrusters, which are ion thrusters – in other words, they use magnetic fields and waves to move around in the lower portion of Earth’s orbit – that can be used to make sure that the satellites are operating at the proper altitude and correct position.
SpaceX’s Starlink Internet satellites are also equipped with Startracker navigation systems. These navigation systems will help SpaceX engineers locate precisely where they are at any point in time.
Considering that the Earth’s orbit is home to tons of space junk and satellites, which are both dead and currently in operation, there will always be a risk that the satellites will get pummeled by huge hunks of metal.
However, the satellites are equipped with technology that helps them lock onto debris that is in their orbit. They are also housed with equipment that can autonomously be used by each of the satellites to get out of such debris’ way.
After these satellites have run their course, about 95 percent of their components will burn up upon their re-entry into the Earth’s atmosphere, making them some of the most environmentally-friendly satellites in human history. SpaceX hopes to hit the 100-percent mark sometime in the near future.
Dil Bole Oberoi
