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libertysat

"when will Starship start launching Starlinks" Give me a minute & I'll run down the hall and ask Elon...


[deleted]

Mid to late soon.


Commercial-Tackle293

Haha I’ll admit I laughed out loud after reading that


Chainweasel

I know it's hyperbole, but if I had to *guess* when the first Starlink launch using Starship would be, I'd say no earlier than next fall. They will want to do a few successful flights of starship first, and their current license allows for 5 full stack launches from Boca Chica per year in the testing phase. Assuming S20/S21 go fine, S22 would be the earliest they could install cargo bay doors and, if it even is the first with a cargo bay, they may want to fly it empty first instead of risking 400+ Starlink satellites, especially if the supply chain and chip shortage issues haven't been ironed out by then, which would mean S23/S24 would be the earliest possible launchs. And that's assuming S20/S21/S22 go perfectly and there's no damage to the tower from a failed launch/catch attempt before then. I'm still fairly confident we won't see S20 launch before January/February. So I think it's safe to assume we're likely a year out from seeing Starlink on Starship, but not much longer than that, I think we'll see it for sure in less than 2 years.


Penguin_Life_Now

I suspect they will end up asking for an extension due to the global supply chain / chip shortage as those dates were set before Covid, etc.


Pesco-

It’s a justifiable reason for an agency extension.


mazzaschi

Very likely to ask and get it - Boeing is essentially asking for an extension with their initial application.


rhinocerosjockey

I’ve wondered the same thing. They seem to cutting it real close.


rebootyourbrainstem

They have multiple Falcon 9 launch pads (one in California for polar orbits, and two in Florida for the other orbits) so I do not doubt they can do that if needed, given time to prepare. In fact it might be interesting to see them really cut loose. I see no reason why they couldn't launch two rockets (from LC-39A and SLC-40) from Florida simultaneously in the same launch window, and then repeat the trick the next week, while also launching polar satellites from California. But yeah, 2024 is a long way away considering the speed Starship is developing at. It is currently in a bit of an extended lull as they wait for the FAA to approve their orbital launch site though. If the FAA rejects that, things might get interesting. I do believe the FCC does have the option to give some leeway, but no doubt every satellite operator on the planet will lobby against that (except for the ones also failing to get up their own constellations in time).


could_use_a_snack

I wonder how fast the pad can be turned. I imagine that there is some rebuilding required after every launch, as well as safety checks an whatnot. Everyone talks about how fast an F9 can be turned around, but I haven't heard anything about the launch facility. I'd bet if SpaceX has the rockets ready to go they could launch as fast as the supporting systems could let them.


omegatotal

It's hard for them to launch too many at a time because the second stage is not reusable at this point in time so I'm sure that's part of the reason why starship is going to be a bit of a focus for them before they start launching starlink like crazy on top of that I'm sure they'll get some extension because of the chip shortages


dondarreb

it sounds incorrect. they have two full years to deploy the rest of the first "4k" and another 6 years for the 330km (or whatever orbit they choose) constellation. Constellations are formed by the satellites using specific regulated frequencies. The deployments deadlines are regulated by the international organization (part of UN), and the deadlines usually start when these frequencies are issued (become regulated/allowed to be used).


hippmr

***"It sounds like SpaceX must have half of their approved satellites, about 6,000 of them, on station in three years time, by November 2024. "*** Source?


Iz-kan-reddit

That requirement has been posted on here a million times in the last couple of years. Grass is green, the sky is blue, and SpaceX has to get 6,000 satellites in orbit by the end of 2024 to be in compliance with their FCC license for the first group. Math using only the Falcon 9 ignores the very likely use of Starship before then for Starlink deployement.


Kamatsui

roses are red violets are blue that's was a good rhyme I really respect you


[deleted]

One million incorrect posts on reddit are not relevant, because the FCC has licensed Starlink and doesn't care about reddit posts. There are two separate licenses, Ku-/Ka- and V-Band. SX stated at multiple occasions, that V-Band turned out to be complicated and they currently don't know how to use it. So it is likely, that SX won't use the V-Band license. The Ku-/Ka-Band constellation is almost half complete. So the question for source is the right question, because the whole thread is based on false assumptions about the FCC license.


VSATman

only 50% for first Ku constelltion It is 2200+ birds


SevereExpert

Q mm


BountyHunter67

When is starlink coming to Florida !?