SpaceX CEO confirmed that the next internet satellites will be launched on a Starship ship
Elon Musk is already thinking about Starlink 2.0. (Photo: La Verdad Noticias)
Elon Musk is thinking about the next generation of Starlink, SpaceX’s satellite Internet service . In an interview with Everyday Astronaut, the magnate revealed that Starlink 2.0 will be much more efficient and that they have developed the first satellite,being four times heavier than those currently in orbit.
Elon has confirmed that the first Starlink 2.0 satellite measures 7 meters and weighs 1,250 kg. The CEO of SpaceX mentioned that due to their size and weight, the new satellites cannot be launched by Falcon rockets, since these satellites do not have the volume or mass required to be put into orbit. Starship is the only rocket capable of taking them into space.
“We need the Starship to work and fly frequently, otherwise Starlink 2.0 will be stranded on the ground,” Musk said in the interview.
Starship. (photo: SpaceX)
Elon Musk assured that the objective is not how many launches will be made per year, but what is the maximum payload they can orbit. “In a constellation of satellites what matters is what is the maximum flow of useful mass for orbit.” he mentioned.
In terms of performance, Starlink 2.0 satellites are more efficient than the current version. “Just think about how many useful bits each satellite can do. Starlink 2.0 in terms of useful data bits is almost an order of magnitude better than Starlink 1.0. ”, He said.
Upgrading to Starlink 2.0 will take some time because the ship’s rockets have to fly continuously. Elon Musk revealed that the new antennas are on “a separate upgrade path”, although the ones already installed will work for both versions of the satellite.
Starlink already thinking about the future of SpaceX’s satellite internet
Elon Musk has an active strategy with Starlink and has already started transferring his funds. SpaceX Internet service is not restricted to locations with limited connectivity, but also to conflict zones that require Internet.
The most recent case is the of the Russian invasion in Ukraine, where the antennas played a key role in keeping the country connected in the face of the Russian escalation. In recent weeks, the CEO of Tesla confirmed that Russia has increased its attacks against the Starlink service.
Starlink satellite. (Photo: MuyComputer)
“Starlink has resisted Russian cyber warfare hacking and interference attempts so far, but they are stepping up their efforts,” the tycoon said in the interview.
< p class=”paragraph”>While fending off Russian cyberattacks, SpaceX’s internet looks to expand into other areas. A few weeks ago, Starlink began flight testing Delta Airlines as an in-flight Internet connection option.
Elon Musk has said he will seek permission to operate on planes Boeing 737 and Airbus A320, although it will take some time for that strategy to become a reality.
How Starlink works in a home or business
In a business or home, the person who contracts the service will receive a kit to mount the antenna on the spot. This is configured for a specific geographical area, that is, it cannot be loaned.
Illustration of Internet connection thanks to Starlink. (photo: Tecnología en el Espacio)
The antenna has to be plugged in and pointed at the sky, and it will work with the router that is included in the kit, and with it you will have the connection in the exact location.
As indicated on the Starlink website, the kit’s antenna must be placed in an elevated area and/or free of obstacles< /b>, such as a tree, a chimney or a lamp post. Any of these obstacles can interfere with the connection and leave you without internet.