The Starlink satellites are currently slated for four more launches in February. The next launch will send 51 spacecraft into orbit, and the other three will send 49. But critics are calling for a halt to Starlink launches because many of the spacecraft are obsolete and posed a risk of collision with other spacecraft. And China is fuming at Musk after two close encounters with the Tiangong space station.
The Starlink team believes it can resume lofting the satellites within three weeks. They’re also actively thinking about how to reduce the risk of collisions and other risks that can occur while the satellites are in orbit. However, the launch delay has prompted many people to wonder: Is SpaceX being a bit cautious? Perhaps the company is just trying to save money? After all, a successful launch would allow the company to build the next generation of Starlink spacecraft.
The SpaceX team says the launch of Starlink internet satellites has halted due to geomagnetic storm. The launch failed because the earth’s atmosphere created 50 percent more drag than normal. That’s not good news for astronomers attempting to find dangerous asteroids. The spacecraft will continue to launch until 2021, though. But the latest delay may be temporary. And the company says it’s adding lasers to the satellites.
SpaceX has paused Starlink liftoffs after the June 30 launch, because the crews want more time to check out the satellites. Currently, there are only 12 operational satellites, and they’re all in the same orbit. The crew of SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket says the satellites need more time to process the checkouts. The launch has been canceled, but they’re working to identify a new launch opportunity.
After the failure of the first Starlink launch, SpaceX placed its satellites in a protective “safe mode” and commanded them to fly edge-on to reduce drag. Then it asked the FCC to stop Starlink launches because Viasat had stolen their antennas. After a couple of weeks, SpaceX resigned in frustration after it was accused of stealing intellectual property. Despite these delays, the company is still working to ensure that the constellation is as safe as possible.
Since the launch of the first Starlink satellites in June, SpaceX has stopped the launch of the next four Starlink internet satellites. The company says it is adding lasers to the spacecrafts to minimize the impact on Earth’s atmosphere. But it hasn’t launched the satellites since June. The last launch occurred on Feb. 15, 2021. Although Starlink’s launch has been successful, no further launches of the internet satellites have been made in the meantime.
After the successful launch of the first 10 Starlink satellites on June 30, SpaceX has been silent for nearly two months. This is largely due to the fact that the company hasn’t launched its internet satellites since that date. Instead, it is focusing on adding lasers to the spacecraft’s antennas. And it’s a matter of time before the company will start launching its first internet satellites again.
The company’s latest launch of the Starlink satellites was the 21st to date. The company had already approved the deployment of 4,408 of the satellites in 2021, and the government’s approval is crucial for the satellites to remain in orbit. In that case, it’s important to keep track of the number of launches that are still scheduled for this year. This is to prevent accidents from affecting the satellites’ operations.
The company has stopped launching the Starlink satellites since June. While the Chinese government reportedly complained to the U.S. about the impact of the satellites on the planet’s atmosphere, the satellites’ presence in the sky has affected astronomers’ ability to identify dangerous asteroids. The company has not launched any Starlink internet satellites since June, but it has been busy adding lasers to the spacecrafts.
The company’s recent launch of 49 Starlink satellites was a disaster for both companies. The relaunched satellites were damaged during the initial deployment, and a geomagnetic storm interfered with their orbits. The company has since blasted the satellites into space to restore the service, but the satellites were damaged and unable to leave the safe-mode. Ultimately, the launch of the first Starlink satellites could cost the US billions.