SpaceX launched 60 Starlink satellites from Space Launch Complex 40 (SLC-40) at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station (Florida) last month.

Falcon 9’s first stage supported the Iridium-7, SAOCOM-1A and Nusantara Satu missions; moreover, the fairing used (this protects satellites during launch) previously flew on Falcon Heavy’s Arabsat-6A mission earlier this year.

Following stage separation, SpaceX landed Falcon 9’s first stage on the ‘drone-ship’ stationed in the Atlantic Ocean. SpaceX is developing a ‘low-latency broadband internet system’ to meet the needs of consumers across the globe.

Enabled by a ‘constellation’ of low Earth orbit satellites, Starlink is designed to provide fast reliable internet to populations with little or no connectivity, including those in rural communities and places where existing services are too expensive or unreliable.

Since the most recent launch of Starlink satellites in May, SpaceX has increased the spectrum capacity for the end user through upgrades in design that maximise the use of both Ka and Ku bands.

Additionally, components of each satellite are 100% ‘demisable’ and will quickly burn up in Earth’s atmosphere at the end of their life-cycle — a measure that exceeds all current safety standards.

Starlink is targeted to offer service in parts of the USA and Canada after six launches, rapidly expanding to global coverage of the populated world after 24 launches.