Page 60 - SAMENA Trends - January 2021

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SpaceX Set to Launch First Starlink Mission Of 2021

As the second SpaceX launch of the year, This prevents current satellite internet ground station. Due to the speed of light
and the first of many Starlink missions providers from offering low latency, high- being faster in a vacuum compared to in
scheduled to launch in 2021, the company speed internet like Starlink aims to provide. the atmosphere, this can allow for faster
is set to launch the Starlink v1.0 L16 Starlink’s solution to the latency problem data transfer, as well as the ability to serve
mission — the 16th launch of operational is to have thousands of smaller, short- areas where no ground station is available,
satellites and 17th Starlink flight overall. lived satellites, with lifespans of around such as the middle of the ocean. There
Liftoff is currently scheduled for January five years, to be placed into a Low Earth have been at least two Starlink satellites
20th at 8:02 EST (13:02 UTC) from LC- Orbit of approximately 550 kilometers launched with the laser interlinks, and on
39A at the Kennedy Space Center. This (340 miles) and lower. This allows latency September 3rd, 2020, SpaceX announced
mission was originally scheduled to to be much lower than any geostationary the two spacecraft had successfully tested
be the third SpaceX launch of the year, satellite, since the signal does not travel the laser interlinks on board the satellites.
however, a delay to the Transporter-1 as far. Starlink satellites also use a flat Another benefit of a Low Earth Orbit
mission will now make Starlink v1.0 L16 packed design that allows many satellites constellation such as Starlink is natural
the second launch of the company’s busy to be launched on a single mission, with the orbital decay. If a satellite fails in orbit and
2021 schedule. SpaceX is aiming for a added bonus of being smaller and cheaper is unable to de-orbit itself, orbital decay
new record of 48 orbital missions this to manufacture in mass production. caused by drag will ensure the satellite de-
year. SpaceX’s previous launch record Current geostationary satellites don’t orbits in weeks to a few years, depending
was set last year when the company flew benefit from large scale manufacturing on the satellite’s altitude. This is to ensure
25 orbital missions. Starlink is SpaceX’s due to only deploying one or a handful a minimum number of dead satellites
own constellation of satellites designed to of spacecraft. Designing the satellites to are left behind which can cause possible
provide low latency internet anywhere in have a shorter lifespan compared to their collisions with other satellites in orbit. If a
the world. Current satellite internet relies geostationary counterparts also allows satellite encounters issues on orbit but is
on large satellites with long lifespans, the constellation to be continuously still capable of de-orbiting, the satellite can
generally 15 years or more, placed into upgraded as new satellites are constantly actively do so rather than waiting for the
geostationary orbit, approximately launched. For example, currently the user slower orbital decay due to drag. SpaceX
35,800 kilometers (22,245 miles) above terminal and a ground station must be in is currently offering a beta version of the
the earth’s surface and directly over the the range of the same satellite in order for Starlink internet service, jokingly named
equator. This allows only a few satellites to a packet of data to reach its destination. the Better Than Nothing Beta, where users
cover most of the earth. However, due to However, SpaceX wants to equip future pay $500 for the Starlink terminal and
the high orbit of the satellites, it takes more satellites with a laser interlink. Laser router, and then $99 per month for the
time for a signal to travel to and from the interlinks will allow data to be transferred service.
satellite, approximately 550 milliseconds. satellite to satellite instead of satellite to

Azercosmos and SatADSL Partner for Central Asian Satellite Internet

Azercosmos, operator of the Azerspace-1 America, Europe, the Middle East, Africa
& Azerspace-2 satellites together and Central Asia. SatADSL’s platform has
with Belgian satellite service provider been deployed in over 45 countries. “Our
SatADSL, are pleased to announce a new partnership with SatADSL demonstrates
partnership agreement. Under the new the high- quality service that Azercosmos
agreement, SatADSL, thanks to its Cloud- provides to its customers and partners. We
based Service Delivery Platform (C-SDP), are pleased to collaborate with SatADSL
will provide accessible and reliable internet and believe that this will open up new
access using the Central Asian beam of the opportunities and projects that will be
Azerspace-1 satellite. SatADSL's ready- mutually beneficial in the upcoming years.”
to-use internet packages offering will be noted Mark Guthrie, Chief Commercial
made easily accessible to its Central Asian Officer at Azercosmos. Thierry Eltges,
customers through Azerspace-1, but also co-Founder & CEO at SatADSL said,
to all the 14 teleports already connected “This exciting new strategic alliance Azercosmos will bring high-performance,
to the C-SDP around the globe. SatADSL creates a wealth of opportunities for reliable IP access services to parts of
now provides satellite connectivity across bringing enhanced connectivity services the continent where reliable connectivity
five continents, including Central & South to East Europe & Russia. Partnering with remains a big challenge.”

60 JANUARY 2021