SpaceX Grows Starlink Constellation to Over 700 Satellites

SpaceX conducted a successful mission Thursday morning, sending another load of 60 Starlink satellites into orbit. 

A Falcon 9 rocket took off from Kennedy Space Center, marking the 12th launch of Starlink satellites. SpaceX hopes to build a constellation of thousands of satellites that can beam internet service back to the U.S. Including Thursday’s addition, SpaceX now has more than 700 Starlink satellites deployed.

SpaceX tweeted Thursday that initial tests of Starlink show speeds capable of streaming “multiple HD movies at once and still have bandwidth to spare.”

https://twitter.com/SpaceX/status/1301504941341642752

SpaceX has launched 16 missions this year, including three missions in August. The company could conduct two more in September. Nine of the missions conducted this year have been Starlink missions. The company is on pace to break its previous record of 21 launches achieved in 2018.

SpaceX Chief Executive Elon Musk has said that 400 Starlink satellites in orbit will be capable of providing minimal internet coverage, and up to 1,600 to provide moderate coverage. SpaceX could begin the service this year.

Watch the livestream above.

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