SpaceX is planning to launch as many rockets as it could possibly over the following two-and-a-half months in an try to fly 100 flights by the tip of the yr, firm exec Invoice Gerstenmaier lately told the US Senate Subcommittee on House and Science. He additionally revealed that the corporate has an much more bold objective for 2024: To launch round 12 flights a month, for a complete of 144 missions for the entire yr. In keeping with an organization official who talked to Ars Technica, SpaceX intends to ramp up its mission numbers subsequent yr, largely in order that it might formally roll out its satellite-to-cell telephone service.
“With our 2 million customers, (we) want that constellation refreshed,” the spokesperson instructed Ars. “We’re additionally going to take a look at direct to cell communications with Starlink, and that is a key characteristic that will get added subsequent yr with these 144 flights.”
The corporate first announced the service, which is able to enable regular smartphones to attach with its satellites, again in 2022. It made the revelation alongside T-Cell, which promised to make the aptitude accessible to its subscribers. T-Cell CEO Mike Sievert likened the know-how to placing a mobile tower within the sky and mentioned it might get rid of deadzones someday, permitting folks to simply get in contact with family members even when they’re in the midst of the ocean. SpaceX VP of Starlink enterprise gross sales Jonathan Hofeller additionally mentioned earlier this yr that the corporate is gearing as much as start testing the service.
As Ars notes, SpaceX beforehand mentioned that the aptitude would require bigger satellites that may launch onboard the corporate’s Starship car. The large rocket is but to be operational, although, and the corporate needed to design an intermediate-sized Starlink satellite tv for pc that may fly on its Falcon 9 rockets. That satellite tv for pc is greater than older fashions however smaller than those wanted to allow voice and information companies. SpaceX would not have plans to roll out Starlink voice and information till 2025, although, and can introduce its direct-to-cell functionality with texting protection solely subsequent yr.
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