With Monday night launch, SpaceX to become world’s largest satellite operator

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From Ars Technica:
"In 2019 SpaceX launched two batches of 60 Starlink satellites—one experimental, and the second operational. On Monday, the company plans to add 60 more satellites with a nighttime launch of the Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida."

https://arstechnica.com/science/2020/01 ... -operator/

SIGH...

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Here's another article from SpaceFlightNow.com:
"SpaceX test-fires rocket ahead of record-setting Starlink launch"

https://spaceflightnow.com/2020/01/04/s ... nk-launch/

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[bladekeeper]

Happy happy joy joy. Sigh.

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Here's the Launch update from Ars Technica:

"SpaceX is now the world’s largest satellite operator"

"10:20pm ET Update: The Falcon 9 rocket launched right on schedule, streaking into the black Florida sky. Less than 10 minutes later, the rocket's first stage landed on a drone ship in the Atlantic Ocean. This particular core has now flown four times.

One hour after launch, the rocket's second stage released its payload of 60 Starlink satellites. As they floated into low-Earth orbit, SpaceX became the company in the world with the most satellites. And with perhaps 20 more Starlink launches planned for this year, they're only getting started.

The only downer on the night is that while the GO Ms. Tree vessel came close to nabbing one payload fairing half, it did not quite make it."

https://arstechnica.com/science/2020/01 ... -operator/

I'd say a big downer on the night is that there are now 60 more satellites in low orbit around the Earth.
A good sentence there: "... SpaceX became the company in the world with the most satellites."

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[man1]

Crazy to have so much space junk floating around... but I guess it will bypass blocked internet feeds to certain places (if needed)!
You can see it - you can get access....

[AbbN]

Here's another article from space.com

https://www.space.com/spacex-starlink-2 ... _2fJQF0YYb

Abb

[smp]

I am by no means happy about all this, but if you really want to get depressed, take a look at StuffInSpace.com: http://stuffin.space

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[man1]

Not so good for Astronomy, but SpaceX with a current throughput of 610 Mbps lets you move a lot of data that can be handy depending on how it is used...

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Here's another article from BBC.com:
"SpaceX sends 60 more Starlink satellites into orbit"

https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-51013308

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And another article from Space.com:
"SpaceX Launches 60 Starlink Satellites, Nails Rocket Landing in Record-Breaking Flight

https://www.space.com/spacex-starlink-2 ... ccess.html

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And another article from SpaceFlightNow.com:
"Sixty more satellites for SpaceX’s Starlink global Internet network streaked into orbit Monday night from Cape Canaveral, including one spacecraft to test an experimental dark coating to address scientists’ concerns that the thousands of the quarter-ton, flat-panel satellites will impede astronomical observations."

https://spaceflightnow.com/2020/01/07/s ... tronomers/

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