Page 56 - SAMENA Trends - November 2020

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Spacex Sets New Falcon 9 Reuse Milestone on Starlink Launch

SpaceX set a new milestone in Falcon Commission called for other satellites proposal. “But commercial expediency is hardly
9 reuse with the latest Starlink satellite at higher orbits and inclinations, a valid reason for the Commission to bypass the
launch Nov. 24 as the company seeks but the company filed a proposed requirements of the Communications Act and
permission to deploy Starlink satellites modification in April that would lower grant an application prematurely, in the face of
into a new orbit. The Falcon 9 rocket all the satellites into orbits between significant doubts as to whether SpaceX has
lifted off from Space Launch Complex 540 and 570 kilometers, including met the public interest standard,” countered
40 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in those in high-inclination orbits. In a Viasat in a Nov. 19 FCC filing. Viasat, which
Florida at 9:13 p.m. Eastern. The rocket’s Nov. 17 filing with the FCC, SpaceX has criticized the reliability of Starlink satellites
upper stage released its payload of 60 sought permission to start launching in earlier filings, again raised concerns about
Starlink satellites into low Earth orbit satellites into sun-synchronous orbit. premature failures of Starlink satellites. It
about 15 minutes later. The rocket’s It requested permission to launch 58 noted there was no evidence the December
first stage landed on a droneship in satellites into one of six orbital planes launch opportunity was the only one for those
the Atlantic, completing its record- at an inclination of 97.6 degrees as satellites, particularly since SpaceX controls
setting seventh launch. The stage first soon as December, arguing that doing the launches. “The Commission should balk at
flew in September 2018 launching the so would allow the company to begin SpaceX’s request to provide it with additional
Telstar 18 Vantage satellite, followed to provide broadband service in rural authority that it does not yet need when doing
by the final Iridium mission in January Alaska. “SpaceX submits this request so could endanger orbital safety,” it stated. The
2019. The rocket then launched four now because it has an opportunity for FCC has yet to act on SpaceX’s request for the
Starlink missions starting in May 2019, a polar launch in December that could polar launch.
most recently Aug. 18. The launch was be used to initiate its service to some
also the 100th overall for the Falcon of the most remote regions of the
9, a total that includes a June 2015 country,” the company stated in the
launch failure but not the destruction of filing, arguing that “launching to polar
another on the pad during preparations orbits will enable SpaceX to bring the
for a static-fire test in September 2016. same high-quality broadband service
SpaceX has now launched 955 Starlink to the most remote areas of Alaska that
satellites, of which 895 are in orbit. The other Americans have come to depend
company has started a beta test of the upon, especially as the pandemic limits
broadband internet service provided by opportunities for in-person contact.”
those satellites in the northern U.S. and The company didn’t elaborate on the
southern Canada. During the webcast of details of this launch opportunity, but
this launch, the company said it would claimed that its request was justified
expand that beta test “in a notable because it had resolved a concern with
way” in late January or early February. Amazon about a potential conflict with
To date SpaceX has launched Starlink that company’s proposed Project Kuiper
satellites into orbits at an inclination constellation. SpaceX agreed to tighten
of 53 degrees, maximizing coverage the orbital tolerances on the Starlink
over mid-latitude regions but excluding satellites at 570 kilometers such that
higher latitudes, including Alaska, they would not fly higher than 580
northern Canada and northern Europe. kilometers, avoiding Kuiper satellites
The company’s original authorization at 590 kilometers. Another satellite
from the Federal Communications operator, though, objected to SpaceX’s

Spacex Successfully Places GPS III Satellite into Orbit

SpaceX has been forced to scrub some of Force Station in Florida. The Falcon 9 first the Space Force. The first launch for Space
its launches recently due to weather and stage successfully landed for recovery on Force happened in June, and SpaceX
other issues with equipment. Recently the drone ship “Of Course I Still Love You” has a contract to launch additional GPS
SpaceX successfully launched its Falcon 9 in the Atlantic Ocean. SpaceX says that the satellites over the next five years aboard
rocket placing the GPS III Space Vehicle 04 satellite deployed approximately one hour rockets using previously flown first-stage
into orbit. The launch occurred at the Space and 29 minutes after liftoff. The launch boosters. Reusing first-stage boosters is
Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Air marks the second SpaceX conducted for key to saving money on rocket launches

56 NOVEMBER 2020