SpaceX launches 60 more Starlink satellites and achieves a reusability record for a Falcon 9 booster

TechCrunch ^ | 6/3/20 | Darrell Etherington

[KC_Lion]

Ping

[E. Pluribus Unum]

Just preparing for the total surveillance state.

[mewzilla]

Saw a conga line of the things going over the house one night not too long ago.

I was seriously creeped out.

[kaehurowing]

Skynet self awareness imminent.

[Jim W N]

Wait a minute - space sex - huh?

[sjm_888]

cool, wondered if you can see them. i’m guessing that they’re not a bright as the iss. thanks for the info. n2yo.com tracks the passes over your qth.

[pinkandgreenmom]

My 16 year old aerospace-engineer-in-training just had us watch the launch with him. And then the ISS passed virtually overhead in the Upstate of SC a little bit after that. Quite a night here.

[MuttTheHoople]

The 100 mile high club

[mewzilla]

The ISS is much brighter, but because there was a straight line of the things, they were real easy to pick out. A long, creepy line whizzing across the night sky.

=8-0

[polymuser]

All of your activities are knowing to us.

[SmokingJoe]

The test Starlink satellite, one of the 60, has a visor system installed that it can deploy post-launch in order to block the sun from reflecting off of its communication antenna surfaces. If it works as designed, it should greatly reduce sunlight reflected off of the satellite back to Earth, and SpaceX will then look to make it a standard part of its Starlink satellite design going forward.

Ok
So what of the other 479 already in Low earth orbit? They are aiming for 42000 altogether yes?

[mylife]

Cloaking satellites?

[mylife]

Cloaking satellites?

[Moonman62]

Once they are in their final higher orbit and orientation they aren’t nearly as bright or clustered together.

[lightman]

He needs 7000 to build his network...at this rate he will need 109 more SUCCESSFUL launches.

[Manuel OKelley]

I think we’ll look back in 20-30 years and see that Musk/space x has done more for getting us than NASA has in the last 40+

[TexasTransplant]

Musk has just impressed me 3 rimes in 3 weeks
He Told California to Kiss his Ass, Delivered Humans to the Space Station and now a triple launch?
I’m not in agreement w him (he does seem to be migrating in my direction) but I sure as hell am impressed w his accomplishments!

[Moonman62]

He needs 7000 to build his network...at this rate he will need 109 more SUCCESSFUL launches.

...

The network can make money with a fraction of that number, and Starship will be able to launch hundreds at a time.

[marktwain]

Various sources say minimal Internet coverage to start with 400 satellites (already enough, tests are underway). “medium” speeds with 800 satellites. Eventually, thousands.... offering coverage to the entire earth, oceans and all...