60 "Starlink" satellites from Elon Musk and SpaceX on their way into orbit

2020-06-06T21:39:25.543Z

The “Starlink” satellites from SpaceX and Elon Musk can be seen in the sky early in the morning. Now the next 60 satellites are in orbit.

The"StarLink" satellites of SpaceX * and Elon Musk are always at the night sky to see
As if on a string of beads pull the satellite ranked as the chain of lights across the sky
Learn how the "StarLink" satellites in the sky can and can behind the project of Elon Musk infected

Update of June 4, 2020, 9:20 a.m .: Last night, SpaceX launched another 60 "Starlink" satellites - this means that 540 of the small Internet satellites are now in orbits around the world. Among the 60 new "Starlink" satellites there is also a special satellite, a so-called "Visor-Sat" . It has a kind of “sunshade” that can be unfolded to prevent the most brightly reflecting areas of the satellite from being hit by sunlight.

Amateur astronomers and professionals have repeatedly criticized SpaceX for the fact that the satellites are too bright in the sky since the first "Starlink" launch . SpaceX is working with astronomy organizations to find a solution to this problem. In the first attempt, SpaceX launched a dark-painted satellite into space, now it is trying to keep the sunlight away from the brightly reflecting areas. The astronomy community is eagerly awaiting whether this will succeed.

“Starlink” satellites from Elon Musk and SpaceX can be seen in the sky

Update from June 3, 2020, 1.40 p.m .: In the coming days there could be more sightings of "Starlink" satellites in the night sky. Most of the clearly visible overflights of the SpaceX satellites are still at very "uncomfortable" times, but some of them shift slowly into late evening or early night:

June 3, 2020, 4:30 a.m .: From southwest to east
June 4, 2020, 3:31 a.m .: From southwest to east
June 5, 2020, 3:39 a.m .: From southeast to east
July 5, 2020, 11:39 p.m .: From southeast to east
June 6, 2020, 3.07 a.m .: From southwest to east
June 6, 2020, 4.24 a.m .: From west to southeast
June 7, 2020, 2.09 a.m .: From southeast to east

SpaceX's “Starlink” satellites can be seen in the early morning sky

Update from May 31, 2020, 8:20 pm: The first part of the important SpaceX mission to the ISS has been accomplished, the astronauts and the "Crew Dragon" have reached the ISS. Now the next "Starlink" start is likely to start soon . Until then, it stays that way: The “Starlink” satellites from SpaceX are currently mainly to be seen early in the morning in the dark sky above the Rhine-Main region. The next observation times for the SpaceX satellites :

June 2, 2020, 2:03 p.m., south to east
June 2, 2020, 3.56 a.m., south to east
June 3, 2020, 4:30 a.m., from southwest to east
June 4, 2020, 3:32 a.m., from southwest to east

SpaceX mission to the ISS takes precedence over new “Starlink” satellites

Update of May 28, 2020, 2:50 p.m .: After the planned launch of the "Crew Dragon" space capsule by SpaceX * for May 27 was canceled due to bad weather, this mission is still in focus at SpaceX , the next "Starlink" - Start has to wait further. Some of the Internet satellites that are already in space can currently be seen above the Rhine-Main area, especially in the early morning. The current observation dates for "Starlink" satellites from SpaceX :

May 29, 2020, 2.52 a.m .: From southwest to east
May 31, 2020, 2.28 a.m .: From south to east
June 1, 2020, 4.44 a.m .: From southwest to east

SpaceX: Starlink satellites seen in the sky in the early morning

Update of May 27, 2020 16:10: Before the coming days "StarLink" satellites of SpaceX can be seen in the sky again, there is a rocket launch before, nothing with the Internet satellite has to do. Today at 10.33 p.m. on Wednesday, SpaceX is to transport astronauts into space for the first time *. You start with a "Falcon 9" rocket; a "Crew Dragon" space capsule is intended to transport them to the ISS.

The next ways to see the "Starlink" satellites in the Rhein-Main area:

May 28, 2020, 3.50 a.m .: From southwest to east
May 29, 2020, 2.52 a.m .: From southwest to east
May 31, 2020, 2.28 a.m .: From south to east

“Starlink” satellites from SpaceX can be seen live in the sky

Update from May 22, 2020, 2:20 pm: In the coming days, the “Starlink” satellites from SpaceX will rarely be seen in the sky above the Rhine-Main area. There are currently only two dates on which they can be viewed:

May 24, 2020, 4.38 a.m .: From southwest to east
May 26, 2020, 4:13 a.m .: From southwest to east

SpaceX: Next “Starlink” launch canceled - manned mission comes first

Update from May 20, 2020, 3.15 p.m .: Actually, the next 60 "Starlink" satellites from SpaceX * should have been launched long ago, but the launch has been postponed. First because of bad weather, but ultimately because there would not have been enough time to prepare the recovery course "Of Course I Still Love You" for the next mission after the booster had been caught. It is scheduled for next week: On May 27, 2020, SpaceX wants to transport astronauts to the ISS for the first time *, and the salvage ship is also needed for this mission, which should not be postponed if possible.

Update from May 15, 2020, 2:50 p.m .: This weekend, 60 “Starlink” satellites from SpaceX are to be launched into space again. It is planned to launch the "Falcon 9" rocket with the 60 satellites on Sunday morning (May 17th). If the launch is carried out and succeeds as planned, 480 “Starlink” satellites are in orbit around the world. SpaceX has been the operator that controls most satellites for some time.

“Starlink” satellites from SpaceX move across the sky like a string of pearls

Update from May 13, 2020, 8:15 pm: If you want to watch the “Starlink” satellites from SpaceX in the night sky , you will have the opportunity to do so again in the next few days. In the coming nights, the brightly shining satellites - strung like a string of pearls - move across the sky as a string of lights . How to see the satellites in the Rhine-Main area in the sky:

May 13, 2020, 11:01 p.m .: The satellite chain flies from west to southeast
May 14, 2020, 11:37 p.m .: The "Starlink" satellites race from west to southwest
May 15, 2020, 10:37 pm: The SpaceX satellites fly from west to southeast
May 17, 2020, 10:13 p.m .: The satellites can be seen from west to southeast

For other observation locations, you can use this tool to calculate the best observation times for the "Starlink" satellites.

“Starlink” satellites from Elon Musk can always be seen brightly in the sky

First announcement from May 13, 2020: Since April 2020, 420 “Starlink” satellites from SpaceX have been in orbits around the world - and the number is expected to increase soon: On May 17, 2020, the next 60 Internet satellites from a “Falcon 9 "rocket by SpaceX to all be brought. In total, SpaceX , the private space company of Elon Musk , has permits for up to 12,000 of the small satellites that are supposed to provide fast Internet from space . Applications have been made for a further 30,000 of these satellites .

“Starlink” satellites from SpaceX move across the night sky like a “chain of lights”

The "Starlink" satellites can be seen time and again in the dark sky over Germany : like a "string of lights" they move across the night sky and sometimes even report to UFO reporting points. The fact that the "Starlink" satellites are so conspicuous causes displeasure. Astronomers and stargazers worry that the SpaceX satellites will destroy the natural starry sky *. Not only hobby stargazers or astrophotographers are affected, but also professional astronomy with its large telescopes .

Successful deployment of 60 Starlink satellites confirmed pic.twitter.com/h3e6QmKRue

- SpaceX (@SpaceX) April 22, 2020

Elon Musk and SpaceX have now promised to remedy the situation: After a so-called "DarkSat", a dark-painted satellite, was tested in early 2020 , the next step was to test "parasols" for the "Starlink" satellites *. These "parasols" are intended to shield particularly bright parts of the satellites from the sun - so that the "Starlink" satellites should shine less brightly in the sky .

Which goal Elon Musk and SpaceX are pursuing with the "Starlink" satellites

This is what it looks like when SpaceX and Elon Musk launch another 60 “Starlink” satellites into space. A "Falcon 9" rocket is launched.

But what are the goals of SpaceX and the eccentric entrepreneur Elon Musk with the "Starlink" project ? Elon Musk's goal is to someday fly people to Mars who are supposed to live there. For this reason, he founded his space company SpaceX , which has now not only turned the industry upside down with its "Falcon 9" recycling rocket , but will shortly (planned for May 27, 2020) be the first private company to fly astronauts to the International Space Station (ISS) . It would be the first manned missile launch on U.S. soil since the end of the space shuttle in 2011.

Elon Musk and SpaceX want to use the Internet to make money for the Mars plans from space. This is still very expensive at the moment, but should become faster and cheaper thanks to the global network of "Starlink" satellites . According to the plan of SpaceX, fast internet from space will be available in every corner of the world .

“Starlink” satellites can be seen as a “chain of lights” in the sky after launch

But immediately after the launch of the first 60 “Starlink” satellites in May 2019, it became clear: The satellites not only provide fast internet , but can also be seen very brightly and clearly in the sky in certain phases . At the time, a video caused a sensation, showing a so-called “satellite train” : the 60 satellites moved very closely one behind the other and shone brightly across the sky . Over time, which reached "StarLink" satellites of SpaceX , although their actual orbits and the "fairy lights" in the sky is pulled apart, but some are satellites still bright and clear at the sky to see.

Since there are permits for a total of 12,000 “Starlink” satellites , not only night sky fans are concerned that the SpaceX satellites could destroy the natural starry sky . At the same time, there are fears that earth orbit will be “littered” by numerous “Starlink” satellites . This could cause dangerous collisions between satellites and thereby endanger manned space travel - such as the ISS.

By Tanja Banner

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

Source: merkur

All life articles on 2020-06-06