30.11.2024

Space commoditization: SpaceX launches Saturday Starlink satellite midnight mission from Cape

With commoditization and access to space decreasing in cost, entire categories of products and services will arise “that we can’t even imagine yet that are going to become household names,” Space Florida’s Ron Lau predicts.

One such nascent category includes space traffic management, removal of orbital debris, and security of satellites, Lau — the agency’s senior vice president of corporate development and capital programs — said in a video released Wednesday on social media.

“Another area that is emerging is really in advanced space manufacturing. So it could be kind of 3D or additive printing. It’s materials — there are a lot of innovative materials that are now being developed. And also, robotics and automation to enable this manufacturing in space,” Lau said.

One low-Earth-orbit brand — SpaceX's Starlink internet constellation — grew by another two dozen satellites with a 12 a.m. EST Saturday Falcon 9 rocket liftoff from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.

After ascending from Launch Complex 40 along a southeasterly trajectory, the Falcon 9's first-stage booster touched down aboard the SpaceX drone ship Just Read the Instructions in the Atlantic Ocean roughly eight minutes after liftoff, wrapping up its sixth flight.

The Starlink 6-65 midnight mission lifted off on the heels of SpaceX's landmark Tuesday night Starlink launch, which represented the company's 400th successful Falcon 9 mission and 375th overall booster landing.

Over on the West Coast, SpaceX crews also launched a Falcon 9 at 3:10 a.m. EST from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California. That NROL-126 mission sent up five National Reconnaissance Office satellites and 20 Starlink satellites.

Looking ahead on the Space Coast launch calendar, another 4½-hour Starlink window will open early Wednesday morning, a Federal Aviation Administration operations plan advisory shows. Hours: 3:29-8 a.m.

Quelle: Florida Today

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