SpaceX has launched 60 internet beaming satellites aboard a Falcon-9 rocket, which lifted off from Cape Canaveral, Florida, US.
The 500lb satellites are the first batch of the company’s Starlink mega-constellation, through which the firm expects to offer affordable internet coverage to the world.
After the launch, the rocket’s first stage reached a floating platform at sea.
All 60 satellites have been deployed and were online a few hundred miles above Earth.
According to SpaceX founder Elon Musk, 12 60-satellite launches will offer internet coverage in the US, 24 launches will cater to the most of the populated world, while the 30 launches will cater to the entire world.
This will take the total count of satellites to 1,800.
How well do you really know your competitors?
Access the most comprehensive Company Profiles on the market, powered by GlobalData. Save hours of research. Gain competitive edge.
Thank you!
Your download email will arrive shortly
Not ready to buy yet? Download a free sample
We are confident about the unique quality of our Company Profiles. However, we want you to make the most beneficial decision for your business, so we offer a free sample that you can download by submitting the below form
By GlobalDataAll 60 satellites moved freely into orbit just an hour after the rocket launch, all the internet-beaming spacecraft had come online by around an hour following that, reported Space.com.
SpaceX intends to launch almost 12,000 satellites for its Starlink network.
It is one of the many firms that have received approval to launch an internet mega-constellation. Others include UK-based OneWeb that commenced its rollout with six satellites in February, reported BBC.
US-based online retailer Amazon also plans to enter the market and is currently working on a 3,200-satellite plan, which is called as Project Kuiper.
These concepts looking at flying the satellites in a low-Earth orbit less than 2,000km above the Earth in order to reduce the latency in the internet network.