Over 500 "Starlink" satellites from SpaceX orbit the earth

The “Starlink” satellites from SpaceX and Elon Musk can always be seen in the dark sky. There are now 538 operational satellites orbiting the earth.

• 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 from June 14, 2020, 2:40 pm: The launch of  "Starlink" satellites is becoming more and more routine for SpaceX : Only about 10 days after the last launch of a "Falcon 9" rocket with 60  "Starlink" satellites is on yesterday a load of the Internet satellites was sent into space again. This time, 58 "Starlink" satellites and three "SkySat" earth observation satellites from the US company "Planet" were on board the "Falcon 9" rocket  .

Liftoff! pic.twitter.com/NuKBSc0esf

The company was the first SpaceX customer to take part in the so-called “rideshare” program, in which small satellites can hitchhike on a SpaceX mission . The contract for this was only signed about six months before the start, it said in advance at SpaceX. With the launch of the 58  "Starlink" satellites , 538 operational satellites for the  "Starlink" constellation are now in orbit according to the company .

“Falcon 9” brings “StarlinK” satellites back into the earth's orbit

Update from June 12, 2020, 8:00 pm: The next "Starlink" launch of SpaceX is planned for Saturday (  June 13th) . This time, however, only 58 instead of 60 of the Internet satellites will be on board the "Falcon 9" rocket. In addition, three “SkySat” earth observation satellites from the US company “Planet” will be part of the SpaceX rideshare program. The start is at 11:21 a.m. (German time).

Targeting Saturday, June 13 at 5:21 am EDT for launch of 58 Starlink satellites and 3 @planetlabs spacecraft - the first SpaceX SmallSat Rideshare Program launch https://t.co/hyMYK3dqKP

How to watch SpaceX's “Starlink” satellites in the sky

Update from June 10, 2020, 6.55 p.m .: After SpaceX took it easy before the important start of the first manned mission with the "Crew Dragon" space capsule with  "Starlink" starts , the full program continues. Three more  Starlink satellites are planned for June: on June 13 (11:21 a.m. German time), on June 23 (0:20 a.m. German time) and on June 30 (around 10 p.m. German time) "Starlink" starts planned according to the current status  .

The satellites that have been in space so far can always be seen in the sky. In the coming days, there should be more striking “Starlink” sightings, especially in the late evening and at night:

• June 10, 2020, 11:23 pm: The "Starlink" satellites fly from west to east
• June 10, 2020, 11:32 p.m .: The satellites can be seen from northwest to east
• June 11, 2020, 1:19 a.m .: The SpaceX satellites fly from south to east
• June 11, 2020, 2.35 a.m .: The satellites race across the sky from west to southeast
• June 11, 2020, 10:23 pm: From the southwest to the east, the "Starlink" satellites can be seen as striking, fast points
• June 11, 2020, 11:34 p.m .: From northwest to east
• June 12, 2020, 0.20 a.m .: From southeast to east
• June 12, 2020, 1.35 a.m .: From west to east
• June 12, 2020, 1.53 p.m .: From west to east
• June 12, 2020, 10:59 p.m .: From west to east
• June 12, 2020, 11:36 p.m .: From northwest to east
• June 13, 2020, 0.35 a.m .: From west to east
• June 13, 2020, 11:37 p.m .: From west to east
• June 13, 2020, 11:52 p.m .: From southwest to east
• June 14, 2020, 1:11 a.m .: From west to southeast
• June 14, 2020, 4:40 a.m .: From west to southeast

“Starlink” satellites from Elon Musk and SpaceX on their way into orbit

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 “parasol” * that can be folded out 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 highly visible overflights of the SpaceX satellites are still at very "uncomfortable" times, but they sometimes 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

The trail of the "Starlink" satellites from SpaceX can be seen brightly and clearly in the sky in the days after their launch - observers describe them as a "pearl necklace" in the sky. (Archive picture)

© Marco Langbroek / AFP

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 catching the booster. 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 moved 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  "chain 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

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.

© picture alliance / John Raoux / AP / dpa

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 meanwhile not only turned the industry upside down with its "Falcon 9" recycling rocket , but will shortly (scheduled for May 27, 2020) be the first private company to fly astronauts to the International Space Station . 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 very 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 the 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.

Rubric list image: © SpaceX