Starlink is a satellite internet constellation operated by SpaceX, an American aerospace company, that provides coverage to over 60 countries. It is a network of thousands of satellites that orbit the planet much closer to Earth, at about 550km, and cover the entire globe. Starlink provides satellite-based internet connectivity to underserved areas of the planet, as well as competitively priced service in more urbanized areas. The service is also notably used for warfare, connecting combat drones, naval drones, artillery fire coordination systems, and attacks on Russian positions. Some key facts about Starlink satellites are:
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Design: Starlink satellites are designed to meet diverse mission requirements and are capable of integrating a wide variety of payloads, offering unique versatility to users.
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Variants: In 2022, SpaceX unveiled new variants of the Starlink service, including Starlink For RVs, a service that lets customers pay more to skip waitlists to connect to its broadband satellites without a fixed address, and Starlink Maritime, to help support users and companies on the ocean.
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Visibility: Starlink satellites orbit approximately 342 miles (550 kilometers) above Earth and can be seen as a string of pearls or a "train" of bright lights moving across the night sky. They are easier to see a day or two after their launch and deployment and become progressively harder to spot as they climb to their final orbital height.
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Lifespan: A Starlink satellite has a lifespan of approximately five years.
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Coverage: Starlink aims to provide global mobile phone service after 2023. However, it will likely need at least 10,000 satellites in orbit before it can claim to offer full service to most of the globe, and SpaceX has shown signs that it wants as many as 42,000 satellites in the constellation.
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Ordering: Starlinks high-speed, low-latency service can be ordered via the companys website.
