Elon Musk raises the bar again with his SpaceX: the seventh launch of Starshipthe world’s largest rocket that will include a simulation of satellite transportation for the first time Starlink. If the launch is successful, Musk will be able to further expand his satellite network, reducing latency and increasing global broadband internet coverage.
Elon Musk and the test to expand the Starlink network
The seventh launch of is scheduled for January 13th, at 11pm Italian time SpaceX. This event, despite now being a consolidated ritual, will see Starship fire up the engines and lift off from the Boca Chica Starbase in South Texas to take the largest rocket ever built out of the atmosphere.
The experiment stands out for an unprecedented aspect: for the first time, together with the launch, the transport of satellites will also be simulated Starlink. A flight that will last 66 minutes and in which the rocket will release its payload into orbit, marking an important milestone for the project.
The January 13 launch is Starship’s seventh launch
Why the launch matters to Space
An important novelty is represented by this Starlink satellite launch simulation. Second Space.comthere are currently 6,912 Starlink satellites in orbit, with 6,874 operational, enough numbers to ensure a global satellite internet connection.
However, the risk of network saturation is real, given that the number of satellites is still considered too small.
Elon Musk’s plan for the global Internet from space
However, the plan foresees the arrival of 12 thousand satellites, so as to ensure a connection universal with reduced latency.
At present, in fact, thanks to its low orbit at 550 km from Earth, Starlink is able to offer a higher speed than other satellite networks, which operate over 35 thousand km away.
The successful launch of Starship It would further accelerate the completion of the Starlink constellation, making any competition, whether public or private, irrelevant.
The Starlink “train” in the Italian skies
Italy has probably become familiar with Elon Musk’s project since August 2022, when a bright trail visible in the sky surprised and fascinated many, giving rise to hypotheses about shooting stars or UFOs.
In reality, these were the 53 mini-satellites launched by SpaceX for the project Starlink. The reports had arrived from several Italian cities, including Friuli, Veneto and Emilia-Romagna.
The launch took place from the Cape Canaveral base, and after releasing the satellites, the rocket landed in the Atlantic Ocean.
Photo source: ANSA
Source: notizie.virgilio.it
