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They have a license for 7x as many (12k vs 1.7k right now) and are applying for up to 30k. The bunched ones will be freshly launched batches of satellites that

They have a license for 7x as many (12k vs 1.7k right now) and are applying for up to 30k. The bunched ones will be freshly launched batches of satellites that have not reached their target altitude, they will spread out in the process. The latitudes that they overfly are currently limited to up to 53°. The explanation might not be the easiest but here it is: satellites go around in a circle or ellipse that lies on an imagined plane, the so-called orbital plane [0]. This plane can be at an angle with the equatorial plane which is called the "inclination" (this value also gives the maximum latitude that they reach). Starlink uses a lot of these planes, each rotated a bit further around the globe [1]. This is so that all areas on the ground will be in sight of one of the satellites eventually. Starlink should also be able to function a bit further to the north than 53° latitude right now but for any latitude much higher than this, users will need to wait until SpaceX has a working network in polar orbits (i.e. not flying on these tilted plains but more or less directly over the poles instead). They are required to eventually serve Alaska, for example. [0] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orbital_plane_(astronomy) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orbital_plane_(astronomy) [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Longitude_of_the_ascending_node https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Longitude_of_the_ascending_nod...

kQq9oHeAz6wLLS 5y ago
> The bunched ones will be freshly launched batches of satellites that have not reached their target altitude, they will spread out in the process. And seeing them fly overhead in the dark of night, all in a line proceeding across the sky is by far the coolest, most sci-fi thing I've ever seen. Also rather surreal.
mabbo 5y ago
> users will need to wait until SpaceX has a working network in polar orbits (i.e. not flying on these tilted plains but more or less directly over the poles instead) Apparently this has already begun, judging by the train of sats that I'm watching fly over the south pole right now.
- JshWright 5y ago
  They have done a couple polar launches, totaling 13 satellites (they were both “rideshares” with other payload launches). The bigger group (10) was launched ~7 months ago and wouldn’t be in a train anymore. EDIT: Oh, nevermind, looks like the batch of 10 is still grouped pretty tightly (wonder why they haven’t spread out yet…?)
- mlindner 5y ago
  They've done few test prototype launches of satellites that were grouped together along with a ride share mission that they had other customers paying for. The operational satellites are about to start launching next month at the earliest [0]. [0] https://spaceflightnow.com/2021/07/27/spacex-to-begin-launching-new-generation-of-starlink-satellites-next-month/ https://spaceflightnow.com/2021/07/27/spacex-to-begin-launch...
martinmunk 5y ago
Glad to hear about the the plans for polar orbit. I do volunteer work in Danish version of FEMA and have gotten more involved in our satellite internet solutions. Our biggest challenge is coverage over Greenland, as geostationary satellites are not visible over the horizon. Iridium has coverage, but it’s slow and bulky. We’re awaiting gear to test Starkink, I believe.
- shaklee3 5y ago
  They're not going to do that for a while. All the money is currently tied up to meet their RDOF funding.
  - mlindner 5y ago
    They're starting to launch the polar launches next month [0]. SpaceX isn't dependent on RDOF funding to fund their service, it just helps accelerate it and avoid going to the private markets for additional funding and diluting the shares further. [0] https://spaceflightnow.com/2021/07/27/spacex-to-begin-launching-new-generation-of-starlink-satellites-next-month/ https://spaceflightnow.com/2021/07/27/spacex-to-begin-launch...
_Microft 5y ago
Turns out we are extra lucky today because Scott Manley just released a video which shows an animation of orbit raise and how Starlink satellites from a single launch change orbital planes via precession. https://twitter.com/DJSnM/status/1420416925713133570 https://twitter.com/DJSnM/status/1420416925713133570

kQq9oHeAz6wLLS 5y ago

> The bunched ones will be freshly launched batches of satellites that have not reached their target altitude, they will spread out in the process. And seeing them fly overhead in the dark of night, all in a line proceeding across the sky is by far the coolest, most sci-fi thing I've ever seen. Also rather surreal.

mabbo 5y ago

> users will need to wait until SpaceX has a working network in polar orbits (i.e. not flying on these tilted plains but more or less directly over the poles instead) Apparently this has already begun, judging by the train of sats that I'm watching fly over the south pole right now.

JshWright 5y ago
They have done a couple polar launches, totaling 13 satellites (they were both “rideshares” with other payload launches). The bigger group (10) was launched ~7 months ago and wouldn’t be in a train anymore. EDIT: Oh, nevermind, looks like the batch of 10 is still grouped pretty tightly (wonder why they haven’t spread out yet…?)
mlindner 5y ago
They've done few test prototype launches of satellites that were grouped together along with a ride share mission that they had other customers paying for. The operational satellites are about to start launching next month at the earliest [0]. [0] https://spaceflightnow.com/2021/07/27/spacex-to-begin-launching-new-generation-of-starlink-satellites-next-month/ https://spaceflightnow.com/2021/07/27/spacex-to-begin-launch...

martinmunk 5y ago

Glad to hear about the the plans for polar orbit. I do volunteer work in Danish version of FEMA and have gotten more involved in our satellite internet solutions. Our biggest challenge is coverage over Greenland, as geostationary satellites are not visible over the horizon. Iridium has coverage, but it’s slow and bulky. We’re awaiting gear to test Starkink, I believe.

shaklee3 5y ago
They're not going to do that for a while. All the money is currently tied up to meet their RDOF funding.
- mlindner 5y ago
  They're starting to launch the polar launches next month [0]. SpaceX isn't dependent on RDOF funding to fund their service, it just helps accelerate it and avoid going to the private markets for additional funding and diluting the shares further. [0] https://spaceflightnow.com/2021/07/27/spacex-to-begin-launching-new-generation-of-starlink-satellites-next-month/ https://spaceflightnow.com/2021/07/27/spacex-to-begin-launch...

_Microft 5y ago

Turns out we are extra lucky today because Scott Manley just released a video which shows an animation of orbit raise and how Starlink satellites from a single launch change orbital planes via precession. https://twitter.com/DJSnM/status/1420416925713133570 https://twitter.com/DJSnM/status/1420416925713133570