SpaceX to Launch 'Dozens' of Starlink Satellites Next Week, More to Follow

[Judi Lynn]

By Caleb Henry 8 hours ago Spaceflight

Mark your calendars for May 15.

WASHINGTON — SpaceX's first launch to carry a large number of Starlink broadband satellites is scheduled for May 15, according to a company executive.

Gwynne Shotwell, SpaceX's president and chief operating officer, said the launch will carry "dozens of satellites," adding more prototypes to the two currently in low Earth orbit.

"This next batch of satellites will really be a demonstration set for us to see the deployment scheme and start putting our network together," she said at the Satellite 2019 conference here. "We start launching satellites for actual service later this year."

Shotwell said SpaceX anticipates launching two to six more times for its Starlink broadband constellation in addition to the May 15 launch. How many Starlink launches occur this year depend on the results of this first batch, she said.

More:
https://www.space.com/spacex-starlink-satellites-launching-may-2019.html

[Duppers]

1. Hope this helps rural communities. nt

[Judi Lynn]

2. It is strange that problem wasn't already solved. n/t