Earlier this year, SpaceX made history after successfully launching 40 new internet-relay satellites for OneWeb. In doing so, SpaceX, who is already a dominant force in the commercial space industry, broke a long-standing record for the most satellites ever released at a single time. This launch makes them the most prolific launchers of satellites in the world and once again reinforces their strategic vision of opening up access to low-budget space exploration.
What Is OneWeb?
OneWeb is a communications satellite venture that’s cutting-edge and ambitious. The goal of the company is to provide people around the world with internet access by launching its own satellites. They plan to accomplish this by creating a network of low-Earth orbit (LEO) satellites, so these smaller satellites can transmit data faster than ever before. SpaceX’s help in this project is significant and vital as SpaceX had to launch large batches of satellites from their Falcon 9 rocket.
Why Is SpaceX So Important?
SpaceX has become a dominant force in the commercial space industry, largely due to its ability to launch multiple satellites in a single mission. Thanks to the Falcon 9 rocket, SpaceX is able to launch many satellites at the same time. This is why the record-breaking launch of 40 new internet-relay satellites for OneWeb was accomplished.
SpaceX and their Falcon 9 rockets have been involved in several other successful satellite launches in recent years. They have sent a variety of satellites into orbit, including communications, navigation, and science payloads. This has enabled SpaceX to become a trusted partner for many organizations who need access to space.
What Was the Record Breaking Launch About?
The launch in question was an absolute success for both companies and was conducted during nightfall on December 6th 2020. The launch itself had previously been delayed for some scientific reason but nevertheless, the launch saw the deployment of 40 new ‘OneWeb’ internet relay satellites, which are designed to allow users to send and receive data from across the globe.
Through this launch, one could say that the goal is to make internet access a little easier and smoother. This is because these OneWeb’s internet relay satellites will provide a faster and more reliable connection than ever before possible.
The Launch Procedure
The launch took place on the Falcon 9 rocket at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida. The launch window was a tight one; SpaceX quite literally had under 2 hours to achieve a successful launch. Before the launch, both SpaceX and OneWeb officials gave a briefing to discuss the procedure, expectations and system checks that had to be completed. It is also important to note that this launch was a complex maneuver as each OneWeb satellite had to be deployed consecutively into the correct orbit.
In the early hours of December 6th, the launch proceeded. Hundreds of people watched as the Falcon 9 rocket lifted off, releasing plumes of smoke and fire behind it, on its way to sending the forty satellites up to their respective orbits. After the launch, the entire spectacle was captured and shared on social media by SpaceX and many other onlookers.
After 49 minutes of waiting, SpaceX successfully managed to launch all 40 OneWeb satellites.
The Impact of This Launch
The breaking of this longstanding record has many implications, and not just for SpaceX. Initiatives like this prove that space exploration can be made accessible to many people, allowing them to explore outer space without having to invest too much of their resources.
In the past, expensive missions made it difficult for the average person to access space – especially considering the cost of the hardware and satellites required. Thankfully, SpaceX has managed to revolutionize spaceflight and made it more affordable and accessible.
The launch of 40 OneWeb satellites has also sparked enthusiasm in the science community, specifically in the fields of telecommunications, internet access, weather forecasting, and predicting natural disasters. These benefits are sure to help us develop a better understanding of the unpredictable forces at play.
The increased coverage given to this mission has also led to the public being more aware of the importance of space exploration. With this knowledge and enthusiasm, the general public may be more willing to fund similar missions.
What’s Next For SpaceX?
This record-breaking launch is only the beginning for SpaceX. They are now setting their sights on putting humans on Mars and are working with NASA to develop a mission that will send astronauts to the Red Planet. This is quite a daring feat, and, if successful, such a mission could lead to the establishment of a permanent lunar base and eventually, a sustainable human presence in space.
SpaceX is also looking to build its Starlink satellite constellation. This mission is unique in that it would be an interconnected network of satellites that provides global internet coverage to people around the world. This could lead to SpaceX providing access to areas of the world that currently lack reliable, fast internet.
SpaceX’s successful launching of 40 OneWeb internet relay satellites is a massive milestone for the company and the commercial space industry as a whole. This launch and others like it have proven to us that access to space is becoming more available and that more exciting missions and ventures into space exploration are on the horizon.
Along with providing the world with reliable internet access, this project has also proven that space exploration and exploration missions can still be very achievable regardless of budget constraints. Many have high hopes for SpaceX and their plans of establishing human civilization on Mars, and so do we.
