2 ms·
All starlink satellites are LEO, just varying degrees of it. They release the satellites from the second stage deliberately quite low, because it's more efficie
by walrus01 4y ago
All starlink satellites are LEO, just varying degrees of it. They release the satellites from the second stage deliberately quite low, because it's more efficient in total weight carried by second stage, and more efficient in specific impulse to spend weight in kilograms of propellant tankage on the satellite for ion/hall effect type thrusters (specific impulses of 2000 ISP and greater) than to place N additional kg of fuel on the second stage to release them all in a higher orbit.
At the release altitude they're above the vast majority of the earth's atmosphere and solar panels + ion thruster burning prograde are sufficient to raise their altitudes to the intended operational orbit.