The Limited Times

Now you can see non-English news...

"Starlink": SpaceX satellites can now be seen in the sky in the morning - this is how you can observe the "chain of lights"

2020-02-06T14:25:33.310Z


SpaceX, the space company from Elon Musk, today sends 60 more “Starlink” satellites into space. The brightness problems continue to exist.


SpaceX, the space company from Elon Musk, today sends 60 more “Starlink” satellites into space. The brightness problems continue to exist.

  • SpaceX now has 240 "Starlink" satellites in space , the company is the largest satellite operator
  • In January a total of 120 satellites were launched into Earth orbit
  • The problem that the satellites shine brightly in the night sky remains unsolved

Update from February 6, 2020, 3:10 p.m .: It was quiet around "Starlink" for a few days, now a phase begins again in which the SpaceX satellites will be visible in the sky over Germany . The observation times for the coming days are all in the morning:

  • February 7, 2020: The “Starlink” satellites can be seen in the Rhein-Main area at 6:00 am - they move from west to southeast.
  • February 10, 2020: The SpaceX satellites can be seen in the Rhein-Main area at 6.14 a.m. from southwest to northeast.
  • February 11, 2020: The satellites can be seen in the Rhine-Main region at 6.33 a.m. from west to northeast in the sky.
  • February 12: The "Starlink" satellites can be seen in the Rhine-Main region at 6.54 a.m. from west to northeast.
  • February 13: The SpaceX satellites can be seen in the Rhine-Main area at 5.40 a.m. from west to northeast.
  • February 14: The satellites can be observed in the Rhein-Main area at 6:03 a.m. from west to northeast.
  • February 15: The SpaceX satellites can be seen in the Rhein-Main area at 6.25 a.m. from northwest to northeast.

SpaceX: 240 “Starlink” satellites are now orbiting the earth

Update from January 29, 2020, 6:00 p.m .: After several postponements, it did work: SpaceX launched another 60 "Starlink" satellites. The company from Elon Musk now has 240 “Starlink” satellites in Earth orbit, half of which only started in January.

Successful deployment of 60 Starlink satellites confirmed! pic.twitter.com/AHkQYB3uNV

- SpaceX (@SpaceX) January 29, 2020

Update of January 29, 2020, 11:00 a.m .: After the launch of the next 60 "Starlink" satellites has been postponed several times in the past few days, it should be time today: At 3:06 p.m., the "Falcon 9" rocket from SpaceX with the Take off satellites on board. There is a livestream:

First announcement from January 27, 2020: 180 “Starlink” satellites from SpaceX are already orbiting the earth and make SpaceX the world's largest satellite operator. Now there are to be even more satellites: On January 29, 2020 at 3:06 p.m., the private space company from Elon Musk plans to launch another 60 satellites into orbit. For the fourth “Starlink” launch, a “Falcon 9” rocket with a rocket stage that had already been used twice is to be used again.

Standing down today due to strong upper level winds. Next launch opportunity is tomorrow at 9:28 am EST, or 14:28 UTC.

- SpaceX (@SpaceX) January 27, 2020

The start has been postponed several times due to bad weather, most recently from January 27, 2020 to January 28, then to January 29. According to SpaceX, the planned rocket stage was already in use at the start of the first "Crew Dragon" demo mission * to the ISS (March 2019). It was then processed and used again for a satellite mission in June 2019.

SpaceX and Elon Musk again send 60 “Starlink” satellites into space

The rocket stage should land on the SpaceX drone ship "Of Course I Still Love You" in the Atlantic shortly after launch. About 45 minutes after the launch, two more ships are also expected to capture the two halves of the payload fairing, each with a net. In addition to the recycling rocket stages, this is another part of the SpaceX plan to reuse as many parts of a rocket as possible and thereby make rocket launches cheaper.

The 60 "Starlink" satellites that the rocket will launch into space are launched at an altitude of 290 kilometers. Each individual satellite should then be checked for functionality by SpaceX employees before the satellites are raised to a height of 550 kilometers using built-in engines.

“Starlink” satellites: Elon Musk wants to offer fast internet from space

The 60 new "Starlink" satellites are to become part of the "Starlink" constellation from SpaceX. Behind this is the plan of Elon Musk and his company to offer fast internet from space in the future - even in the most remote corners of the world. "Starlink" is the "most advanced broadband internet system", it says in a press kit for the latest "Starlink" launch.

SpaceX's plan is to launch several thousand "Starlink" satellites and to offer Internet services to its first customers in the United States and Canada in 2020. At least 400 satellites are required for "minimal coverage", at least 800 satellites for moderate coverage, said Elon Musk some time ago. SpaceX plans to send another 60 satellites into space every two to three weeks in 2020. From 2021 there will be a "global" coverage with "Starlink" Internet.

“Starlink” plans by SpaceX and Elon Musk cause criticism

Not everyone is enthusiastic about the plans of SpaceX and Elon Musk : After the first 60 satellites were launched in May 2019, their effects on Earth could be clearly seen: The "Starlink" satellites scurried - as if strung on a string - clearly visible over the night sky *. The higher the satellites rose, the weaker their light became, but they are still clearly visible today.

Numerous astronomers and astronomy organizations have criticized this intervention in the night sky and its effects on science. At the "Starlink" launch in early January, a satellite was there for the first time to test a solution to the problem: it was coated with a black layer to make it darker. What became of this experiment called DarkSat is not yet known. What is certain, however, is that astronomers continue to warn of the effects of the "Starlink" satellites. Your criticisms:

  • The night sky is destroyed
  • Astronomical observations are made more difficult - the satellites pass through the images as light strips
  • Radio astronomy is impaired: The radio signals from the "Starlink" satellites interfere with sensitive radio observatories

Wow!! I am in shock !! The huge amount of Starlink satellites crossed our skies tonight at @cerrotololo. Our DECam exposure was heavily affected by 19 of them! The train of Starlink satellites lasted for over 5 minutes !! Rather depressing… This is not cool! pic.twitter.com/gK0ekbpLJe

- Clarae Martínez-Vázquez (@ 89Marvaz) November 18, 2019

SpaceX wants to find a solution for brightly lit "Starlink" satellites

At a meeting of the American Astronomical Society (AAS) in Honolulu, SpaceX once again emphasized that a solution was to be found, reports "Nature". "SpaceX is determined to find a way so that our" Starlink "project does not compromise the value of the research you all do," quotes SpaceX's "Nature" Patricia Cooper.

Two satellites threaten to collide over the United States - this could have dangerous consequences.

By Tanja Banner

* fr.de is part of the nationwide Ippen-Digital central editorial office.

Rubric list picture: © picture alliance / Joe Burbank / TNS via ZUMA Wire / dpa

Source: merkur

All life articles on 2020-02-06

You may like

Trends 24h

Latest

© Communities 2019 - Privacy

The information on this site is from external sources that are not under our control.
The inclusion of any links does not necessarily imply a recommendation or endorse the views expressed within them.