SpaceX launched 28 extra Starlink satellites for its low Earth orbit constellation on Tuesday (July 8).
A Falcon 9 rocket lifted off with the broadband web items (Group 10-28) at 4:21 a.m. EDT (0821 GMT) from Area Launch Complicated 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. About 9 minutes later, the satellites reached house and, 50 minutes after that, have been deployed into orbit.
“Deployment of 28 Starlink satellites confirmed,” SpaceX introduced on the X social media network.
Within the interim, the Falcon 9 rocket’s first stage (Booster 1077) accomplished its twenty second flight to and from house, touchdown on the droneship “A Shortfall of Gravitas” within the Atlantic Ocean.
SpaceX’s Starlink community gives broadband web entry to areas throughout the globe the place different varieties of protection is unavailable or is disabled. Via a partnership with T-Cell, it has additionally began offering direct to cell service, which SpaceX has enabled for the flash flooded areas in Texas.
“In help of these impacted by flooding in Texas, Starlink is offering Mini kits for search and rescue efforts – making certain connectivity even in lifeless zones – and one month of free service for hundreds of consumers within the area, together with those that paused service to allow them to reactivate Starlink throughout this time,” the corporate wrote on X.
“The Starlink workforce and T-Cell have additionally enabled fundamental texting (SMS) by way of our Direct to Cell satellites for T-Cell clients within the areas impacted by flooding in Texas. This consists of Kerr County, Kendall County, Llano County, Travis County and Comal County. Moreover, anybody within the impacted areas with a appropriate smartphone will be capable to obtain emergency alerts from public security authorities,” Area wrote.