SpaceX's Starlink revealed that it enabled real-time views of Earth during the sixth flight test of Starship.
What Happened: Starlink, the satellite internet segment of SpaceX, announced via a tweet that it had enabled real-time views of Earth during the sixth flight test of Starship.
This comes as SpaceX continues to increase its launch cadence, with 17 launches in the last 31 days, including the launch of 24 Starlink satellites to low-Earth orbit from Florida.
"Starlink enabled real-time views of Earth during Starship's sixth flight test earlier today," the Elon Musk-owned satellite internet service provider said in a post on X.
Starlink operates a constellation of satellites around the world to offer internet connectivity to its more than four million subscribers. Musk recently said that Starlink is SpaceX's primary source of funding for the Starship program, with contributions from NASA, too.
"Starlink is how we are paying for humanity to get to Mars. That's why there is a Hohmann transfer orbit diagram on the Starlink router."
With Starlink demonstrating the capability of live streaming during re-entry and landing, its capabilities could eventually be leveraged to offer connectivity on future space missions.
Starship, a rocket designed to transport astronauts to the moon and Mars, successfully launched from SpaceX’s Texas rocket development site, with the first stage booster, Super Heavy, detaching at an altitude of about 40 miles.
While SpaceX is currently a privately held company, investors can leverage Destiny Tech100 Inc. DXYZ to participate in the Musk-led space company's growth. According to data from Benzinga Pro, DXYZ has gained over 198% in the past 6 months.
Why It Matters: The successful launch and the real-time views enabled by Starlink are significant milestones for SpaceX. The company's CEO, Musk, has been vocal about his vision for space exploration and colonization, and Starship plays a crucial role in this vision.
Gwynne Shotwell, COO of SpaceX, recently stated that Starlink is expected to become profitable in 2024. With over 7,000 Starlink satellites launched to date, the company is building 50-60 satellites per week as it expands its network in low-earth orbit.
Moreover, NASA has endorsed the initial deployment of 400 Starlink satellites closer to Earth and is conducting a study to assess the impact of this deployment on travel to and from the International Space Station (ISS.)
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Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.
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