SpaceX Launches Laser-Linked Starlink Satellites

SpaceX plans to launch its first batch of Starlink satellites from Florida since June early Saturday, all of which carry new laser communication links to beam information back and forth in space, Paul Brinkmann reported for United Press International (UPI).

Photo Insert: Falcon 9's 25th launch of 2021

Elon Musk's space company has scheduled liftoff of the Falcon 9 rocket for 7:19 a.m. EST from Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.

SpaceX postponed the launch from Friday morning due to weather concerns. A forecast indicates only a 10% chance of storm clouds in the area for Saturday morning, according to the US Space Force.

SpaceX began Starlink in May 2019 and now has some1,500 satellites in orbit to provide broadband Internet service to users on the ground. The company said this summer, it shipped about 100,000 ground terminals -- small dishes to receive the signal -- to subscribers.

The rocket company has sometimes launched two batches of about 60 satellites per month, but that pace slowed this year as it added the new laser links, said Tim Farrar, a telecommunications consultant based in California.

The lasers provide crosslinks between Starlink satellites, which allows faster transmission of data in space, he said. "The crosslinks make the satellites bigger and heavier, apparently, because the most recent launch only had 51 satellites on board, less than usual," Farrar said.

However, access to the technology can only be achieved on clear days and Musk’s company is rushing the development of a new square dish for users.

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