SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket, which was initially scheduled to launch Thursday night, was delayed until Friday night. The Starlink 7-9 mission will carry a batch of 21 satellites into low Earth orbit, including the first six that will provide direct-to-cell capabilities for the company’s service.
The direct-to-cell feature was first announced by SpaceX founder Elon Musk last year and is expected to be a game changer in the telecommunications industry. The ability to connect to the Starlink network even in remote areas or during natural disasters is a promising development.
SpaceX anticipates launching approximately 840 direct-to-cell capable satellites over the next 6 months, with additional launches continuing after that period. The company has partnered with service providers in various countries, including the United States, Australia, Canada, Japan, New Zealand, and Switzerland.
The launch will use a Falcon 9 rocket with a brand new first stage booster, which is expected to land on the droneship “Of Course I Still Love You” in the Pacific Ocean. The payload fairings housing the Starlink satellites are flight proven, although the exact number of missions they’ve flown was not disclosed prior to launch.
The mission is a significant step towards realizing SpaceX’s vision of providing seamless global access to texting, calling, and browsing, regardless of location or environmental conditions. The company is set to play a pivotal role in expanding connectivity across the globe.