The Philippines gives green light to Starlinkby Park Si-soo — May 27, 2022 [SN]
The Philippine government has approved the registration of SpaceX's subsidiary in the country, enabling the latter to start providing Starlink broadband in services in the country. Credit: SpaceXSEOUL, South Korea — The Philippines has approved plans that will see it become the first country in Southeast Asia to access SpaceX’s Starlink broadband services.
The National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) approved May 26 the registration of Starlink Internet Services Philippines Inc., a subsidiary of SpaceX that will provide the satellite broadband to the archipelago.
https://spacenews.com/the-philippines-gives-green-light-to-starlink/Starlink approved in Nigeria and Mozambique, says Elon Muskby Jason Rainbow — May 27, 2022 [SN]
A Falcon 9 rocket launches 53 Starlink satellites May 18, expanding the network to more than 2,400 in LEO. Credit: SpaceXTAMPA, Fla. — MaySpaceX CEO Elon Musk announced the regulatory clearance in Africa via Twitter a few hours after tweeting that Starlink had been approved in the Philippines, the first country in Southeast Asia to grant it permission to provide services.
https://spacenews.com/starlink-approved-in-nigeria-and-mozambique-says-elon-musk/Starlink regains permission to operate in Franceby Jason Rainbow — June 6, 2022 [SN]
France’s Conseil d’État revoked Starlink's spectrum license in the country April 5, following an appeal from environmental groups.TAMPA, Fla. — SpaceX’s Starlink broadband network reclaimed permission to operate in France June 2 following a month-long public consultation in the country.
French telecoms regulator ARCEP said it decided to award Starlink a spectrum license again after its consultation highlighted demand for the services in areas poorly served by terrestrial networks.
ARCEP had authorized Starlink in February 2021, however, France’s highest administrative court revoked the license April 5 after ruling that the regulator should have first launched a public consultation.
https://spacenews.com/starlink-regains-permission-to-operate-in-france/Elon Musk reportedly extends timeline for potential Starlink IPOby Jason Rainbow — June 7, 2022 [SN]
SpaceX founder and CEO Elon Musk reportedly discussed plans to make Starlink a public company June 2. Image credit: SpaceNews/Caleb HenryTAMPA, Fla. — SpaceX is unlikely to offer shares in its broadband company Starlink to the public until 2025 or later, according to a report citing comments its CEO Elon Musk made to employees last week.
Musk said he did not know exactly when Starlink could list shares on a public stock exchange, reported CNBC citing an audio recording of a June 2 SpaceX company meeting, but guessed it would be in three or four years.
https://spacenews.com/elon-musk-reportedly-extends-timeline-for-potential-starlink-ipo/Astronomers renew concerns about Starlink satellite brightnessby Jeff Foust — June 17, 2022 [SN]
Three years after the first batch of Starlink satellites alarmed astronomers because of their brightness, astronomers say they're worried about both the increased brightness of newer Starlink satellites and larger second-generation ones. Credit: Victoria Girgis/Lowell ObservatoryPASADENA, Calif. — As SpaceX gears up for another launch of Starlink satellites, astronomers are concerned the company maybe backsliding in its efforts to reduce the brightness of those satellites.
A Falcon 9 is scheduled to lift off at 12:08 p.m. Eastern June 17 from Kennedy Space Center’s Launch Complex 39A, placing 53 Starlink satellites into orbit. This mission will bring the total number of Starlink satellites launched to more than 2,700, with more than 2,450 in orbit.
https://spacenews.com/astronomers-renew-concerns-about-starlink-satellite-brightness/SpaceX warns 5G plan would deny Starlink to most Americansby Jason Rainbow — June 21, 2022 [SN]
Starlink announced a new service plan in May designed for recreational vehicles (RVs), but only while they're stationary. Credit: StarlinkTAMPA, Fla. — SpaceX warned June 21 that its Starlink broadband network would become unusable for most Americans if a proposal to use the 12 GHz band for terrestrial 5G is approved.
U.S.-based satellite broadcaster Dish Network is seeking permission to operate a high-power mobile service in the 12 GHz band, which is part of the Ku-band spectrum that Starlink, OneWeb and other satellite operators use to connect with user terminals.
In a letter to the Federal Communications Commission, SpaceX said tests it conducted in Las Vegas shows how the proposed network would cause Starlink users to “experience harmful interference” more than 77% of the time.
https://spacenews.com/spacex-warns-5g-plan-would-deny-starlink-to-most-americans/UK mulls Starlink expansion plan under new NGSO regulationsby Jason Rainbow — June 22, 2022 [SN]
A false-color image of the United Kingdom acquired by the European Space Agency's Sentinel-3A satellite. Credit: ESATAMPA, Fla. — The United Kingdom launched a public consultation June 21 under a recently strengthened licensing regime to consider Starlink’s expansion plans.
SpaceX is seeking to deploy six more gateways in England to meet user demand and improve network resiliency for its non-geostationary orbit (NGSO) broadband constellation.
Starlink already has three gateways across the British Isles, which were approved before Ofcom updated NGSO regulations in December to add new checks on interference and competition risks.
https://spacenews.com/uk-mulls-starlink-expansion-plan-under-new-ngso-regulations/SpaceX to continue Starlink network deployment with Thursday launchJuly 6, 2022 Stephen Clark [SFN]
File photo from April of a Falcon 9 rocket standing on its launch pad at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. Credit: Stephen Clark / Spaceflight NowFifty-three more Starlink internet satellites are fastened to the top of a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket for liftoff Thursday from Cape Canaveral, the first of five Falcon 9 flights scheduled for July.
https://spaceflightnow.com/2022/07/06/spacex-to-continue-starlink-network-deployment-with-thursday-launch/Dish says SpaceX’s Starlink 5G interference study is flawedby Jason Rainbow — July 7, 2022 [SN]
The FCC granted Starlink permission in June to connect vehicles in motion. Credit: SpaceXTAMPA, Fla. — Dish Network and others pushing for permission to use 12 GHz spectrum for 5G said July 7 that SpaceX’s study on how it would severely disrupt its broadband customers is “scientifically and logically flawed.”
The 5G for 12 GHz Coalition, which includes the satellite TV broadcaster and a mix of telcos, public interest groups and trade associations, said the study draws nationwide conclusions from a “single cherry-picked” area that is “among the most unfavorable geographies to analyze” interference.
https://spacenews.com/dish-says-spacexs-starlink-5g-interference-study-is-flawed/SpaceX launches 53 more Starlink internet satellitesJuly 7, 2022 Stephen Clark [SFN]
(...) The launch was the first of at least five Falcon 9 missions SpaceX has scheduled for July. Three more Starlink deployment flights and a Dragon cargo flight to the International Space Station are planned later this month.
With Thursday’s mission, SpaceX has launched 2,759 Starlink internet satellites, including prototypes and test units no longer in service. The launch Thursday marked the 49th SpaceX mission primarily dedicated to hauling Starlink internet satellites into orbit. (...)
https://spaceflightnow.com/2022/07/07/falcon-9-starlink-4-21-live-coverage/SpaceX’s 50th dedicated Starlink mission begins filling new network layerJuly 11, 2022 Stephen Clark [SFN]
SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket fires into orbit from California with 46 Starlink satellites. Credit: SpaceXSpaceX launched the 50th dedicated mission for the Starlink internet network Sunday from California’s Central Coast, deploying 46 broadband relay nodes to begin populating a new polar-orbiting “shell” to fill in gaps in the satellite constellation.
The 46 Starlink satellites lifted off from foggy Vandenberg Space Force Base, about 140 miles (225 kilometers) northwest of Los Angeles, on top of a Falcon 9 rocket. The kerosene-fueled launcher took off from Space Launch Complex 4-East at 6:39:40 p.m. EDT Sunday (9:39:40 p.m.; 0139:40 GMT Monday). (...)
The launch Sunday marked the 50th SpaceX mission with a primary task of hauling satellites into orbit for the Starlink network. In all, SpaceX has launched Starlink satellites or prototypes on 53 Falcon 9 flights, including three launches that included Starlink spacecraft as secondary or rideshare payloads. (...)
Previous Starlink missions have launched into orbits inclined to the equator at angles of 53.0, 53.2, and 70 degrees. The network’s architecture also includes two other layers in orbits inclined 97.6 degrees to the equator to provide continuous global internet coverage.
One of those polar orbit “shells,” known as Group 3, was the target for Sunday night’s mission. The polar-orbiting satellites will extend Starlink coverage over the poles and help fill gaps in the rest of the constellation.
SpaceX began deploying Starlink satellites in 2019 and finished filling the shell at 53.0 degrees inclination, called Group 1, with 1,584 active satellites with a launch in May 2021. In September 2021, SpaceX launched the first batch of 51 Starlink satellites into a 70-degree inclination orbit on a Falcon 9 rocket from Vandenberg. That orbital shell, which hasn’t had any more launches since last September, will eventually contain 720 satellites.
SpaceX’s first launch into Group 4 of the Starlink network, at 53.2 degrees inclination, occurred in November 2021. SpaceX is now more than halfway complete with populating the 53.2 degree inclination shell, which will eventually number 1,584 satellites, the same number as Group 1.
The other Starlink shells — Groups 3 and 5 with 348 and 172 satellites each — are positioned in polar orbit at an inclination of 97.6 degrees. Sunday’s launch was designated Starlink 3-1.
All of the first-generation Starlink satellites will fly at altitudes between 335 and 354 miles (540-570 kilometers). (...)
https://spaceflightnow.com/2022/07/11/spacexs-50th-dedicated-starlink-mission-begins-filling-new-network-layer/SpaceX Resumes Vandenberg Launches, Looks Ahead to Record-Breaking 2022by Ben Evans July 11, 2022 [AS]
SpaceX’s record-tying sixth Falcon 9 of 2022 from Vandenberg Space Force Base, Calif., punches through the murk. Photo Credit: SpaceXSpaceX is already heading squarely towards its most-flown year on record, with 2022 thus far having averaged one Falcon 9 launch per week. But late Sunday, as its 25th flight out of Vandenberg Space Force Base, Calif., took flight, it also set its sights on a record-setting haul of missions out of the mountain-ringed West Coast launch site.
https://www.americaspace.com/2022/07/11/spacex-resumes-vandenberg-launches-looks-ahead-to-record-breaking-2022/Georgia approves Starlink services in Eastern Europeby Jason Rainbow — July 14, 2022 [SN]
A Falcon 9 rises above the clouds to launch the latest batch of Starlink satellites July 10. Credit: SpaceX webcastTAMPA, Fla. — Georgia became the latest country July 14 to approve SpaceX’s Starlink broadband constellation.
Starlink applied for permission to provide services in Georgia July 8 after meeting regulatory officials at the end of June, the Georgian National Communications Commission (ComCom) said.
https://spacenews.com/georgia-approves-starlink-services-in-eastern-europe/Weather iffy for SpaceX’s next Starlink launch SundayJuly 16, 2022 Stephen Clark [SFN]
Forecasters predict a 50-50 chance of good weather at Cape Canaveral for launch of SpaceX’s next batch of Starlink internet satellites Sunday on a Falcon 9 rocket.
Fifty-three more Starlink internet satellites are packed inside the nose cone of a Falcon 9 rocket for liftoff at 10:20 a.m. EDT (1420 GMT) Sunday from pad 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. The launch will mark the 31st Falcon 9 flight of the year, tying the total number of Falcon 9 launches SpaceX performed in 2021.
https://spaceflightnow.com/2022/07/16/weather-iffy-for-spacexs-next-starlink-launch-sunday/SpaceX deploys 53 more Starlink satellites on record-tying 31st launch of the yearJuly 17, 2022 Stephen Clark [SFN]
SpaceX launched 53 more Starlink internet satellites on a Falcon 9 rocket Sunday. Credit: Stephen Clark / Spaceflight NowFifty-three more Starlink internet satellites thundered into orbit from Cape Canaveral atop a Falcon 9 rocket Sunday on SpaceX’s 31st launch of the year, tying the company’s number of missions for all of 2021 and maintaining a pace of one flight per week.
https://spaceflightnow.com/2022/07/17/spacex-deploys-53-more-starlink-satellites-on-record-tying-31st-launch-of-the-year/SpaceX going for record-breaking 32nd launch of the yearJuly 20, 2022 Stephen Clark [SFN]
File photo of a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket standing vertical at Space Launch Complex 4-East at Vandenberg Space Force Base, California. Credit: SpaceXSpaceX is poised to launch 46 more Starlink internet satellites on a Falcon 9 rocket Thursday from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California. The mission will mark SpaceX’s 32nd launch since Jan. 1, breaking the company’s record for Falcon 9 flights in a year.
And the year is barely half over, meaning SpaceX is on pace to nearly double the number of launches accomplished in 2021. SpaceX has launched more successful missions into orbit so far this year than the combined efforts of any other nation, and the company is far outpacing its chief competitors in the commercial marketplace.
https://spaceflightnow.com/2022/07/20/spacex-going-for-record-breaking-32nd-launch-of-the-year/SpaceX calls rare last-minute abort during California launch countdownJuly 21, 2022 Stephen Clark [SFN]
File photo of a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket on its launch pad in California before a previous mission. Credit: SpaceXSpaceX called off a Falcon 9 launch attempt Thursday less than a minute before liftoff from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California, the company’s first terminal countdown abort in more than 18 months for reasons other than bad weather or range safety.
The Falcon 9 rocket was supposed to take off on SpaceX’s Starlink 3-2 mission at 10:39 a.m. PDT (1:39 p.m. EDT; 1739 GMT) Thursday from a foggy launch pad at Vandenberg, a military spaceport about 140 miles (225 kilometers) northwest of Los Angeles.
https://spaceflightnow.com/2022/07/21/spacex-calls-rare-last-minute-abort-during-california-launch-countdown/SpaceX launches 32nd mission of the year, breaking record set in 2021July 22, 2022 Stephen Clark [SFN]
A Falcon 9 rocket climbs above a marine layer over Vandenberg Space Force Base in California, heading to orbit with 46 more Starlink internet satellites. Credit: SpaceXWith 2022 barely half over, SpaceX launched its 32nd mission of the year Friday from California’s Central Coast, breaking the company’s record for most launches in a year and delivering 46 more Starlink internet satellites into polar orbit to provide global broadband service.
https://spaceflightnow.com/2022/07/22/spacex-launches-32nd-mission-of-the-year-breaking-record-set-in-2021/SpaceX test-fires Falcon 9 rocket for Sunday launch from FloridaJuly 23, 2022 Stephen Clark [SFN]
A Falcon 9 rocket test-fired its nine Merlin main engines at 9 a.m. EDT (1300 GMT) Saturday in preparation for the Starlink 4-25 mission. Credit: Spaceflight NowSpaceX test-fired a Falcon 9 rocket at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center Saturday in preparation for liftoff Sunday with the company’s next batch of 53 Starlink internet satellites.
https://spaceflightnow.com/2022/07/23/starlink-4-25-static-fire/Test-firings on the launch pad were once a customary part of every SpaceX launch campaign, but the company is phasing out the static fire tests for most missions as the Falcon 9 launch cadence has ramped up to an average of one flight per week.
SpaceX launches sixth mission in 17 daysJuly 24, 2022 Stephen Clark [SFN]
SpaceX’s 33rd mission of the year lifted off Sunday from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Credit: Michael Cain / Spaceflight Now / Coldlife PhotographyContinuing a record-breaking launch cadence, SpaceX sent a Falcon 9 rocket aloft Sunday from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida with 53 more satellites for the company’s Starlink internet network, the sixth Falcon 9 launch in 17 days and 33rd overall this year.
https://spaceflightnow.com/2022/07/24/spacex-launches-sixth-mission-in-17-days/