SpaceX sent another 57 Starlink satellites into orbit, inching toward beta testing

[Mike Wehner]

• SpaceX launched another 57 of its Starlink communications satellites into orbit this week, bringing the total number of Starlink satellites in orbit to just shy of 600.
• The satellites will provide high-speed internet access for users with special terminals, but the program is still in an early beta phase.
• Starlink satellites have drawn ire from astronomers as they have a habit of ruining photos of space taken from Earth.

SpaceX has been on a roll with its Starlink program as of late. The company has sent hundreds of the tiny communications satellites into orbit and it just did it again, packing another 57 satellites into its Falcon 9 along with a pair of satellites for a company called BlackSky. The mission was delayed from several weeks ago, but finally took to the skies, and it seemed to go off without a hitch.

The launch took place from Kennedy Space Center, with the Falcon 9's first stage pushing the rocket into orbit before making a successful landing on one of the company's drone ships positioned in the ocean.

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SpaceX sent another 57 Starlink satellites into orbit, inching toward beta testing originally appeared on BGR.com on Fri, 7 Aug 2020 at 23:47:47 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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