- SpaceX has successfully launched a new generation of its Starlink satellites
- The so-called V2 Mini satellites carry around four times as much capacity as their larger, earlier counterparts
- A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket released 21 of them into orbit Tuesday
SpaceX has successfully launched a new generation of its Starlink satellites.
The space exploration company owned by Tesla CEO Elon Musk, shared a video of the first Starlink v2 satellites to reach orbit.
The so-called V2 Mini satellites carry around four times as much capacity as their larger, earlier counterparts.
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket released 21 of them into orbit Tuesday.
Traditionally, the Falcon 9 rockets had been able to carry over 50 satellites on launch trips. However, despite the name, the new satellites are larger and heavier than earlier versions.
“V2 minis include key technologies—such as more powerful phased array antennas and the use of E-band for backhaul—which will allow Starlink to provide ~4x more capacity per satellite than earlier iterations,” SpaceX said in a Tweet Sunday.
The company has around 4,000 Starlink satellites in orbit so far. Its network eclipsed 1 million subscribers in December.
SpaceX is averaging around one launch every four days so far through 2023.
It is targeting another launch Thursday this week, depending on weather.