“We’re experiencing some issues,” SpaceX CEO Elon Musk tweeted.
Some second-generation Starlink satellites may have to be deorbited; one has already fallen and burned in the Earth’s atmosphere. Musk said on Twitter that there is a lot of new technology on the V2 Mini. The V2 Mini is a smaller version of the V2 that can be launched with the Falcon 9 rockets currently in SpaceX service. The full-sized V2 Starlink satellites will weigh around 2,800 lbs. with solar arrays 65 feet long. The full-sized V2 satellites will launch on SpaceX’s Starship rocket.
Musk went on to tweet, “Some sats will be deorbited, others will be tested thoroughly before raising altitude above Space Station.”
The new Starlink V2 Mini orbiters are equipped with upgraded phased array antennas. They are propelled by an efficient argon-fueled propulsion system that is more efficient than the krypton-fueled V1.5 iterations. They also have two solar arrays, compared to a single extendable solar panel on each Starlink V1.5 spacecraft.
SpaceX carried out the launch of another 56 of the earlier V1.5 satellites on March 29. To date, the company has launched more than 4,200 satellites.
It was entirely in character for SpaceX to develop an interim workaround for the V2 launch problem. The objective was to get more sophisticated satellites into low earth orbit to expand Starlink coverage. The SpaceX launch schedule outpaced the readiness of the Starship vehicle. However, the latest development with the problem of orbital altitudes may well delay the launch of V2 Minis and thus hamper the expansion of service.
RVtravel.com will monitor this situation and report on the effects of the issues on Starlink RV service.
##RVT1099b
How did American’s ever enjoy travel and camping before cell phones and the Internet, let alone get where they were going without GPS?
Thank you for following this story far more closely than I can. Cell data plans are our way of connecting to the internet when we travel. However, if the plans go away in the future, then subscribing to Starlink might become a consideration. Thank you for keeping me current.
If Mr. Musk doesn’t share some of PT Barnum’s DNA then no one does. Can’t believe how many people have been fooled by his house of cards. Think RV’s are poorly made? Ask any former Tesla owner, current ones are busy defending their foolishness. Keep in mind Tesla makes their money by selling their carbon offset credits to other corporations, not from profits on their vehicles. Why believe Starlink will be any different?
While he is still a shareholder of SpaceX, he doesn’t have anything to do with operations there at this point given his past behavior. Twitter and Tesla are still his playthings (for now).
Starlink has been a boon for us full timing. It has opened up more remote campsites and provides enough bandwidth to support a full time, video-conferencing heavy tech job. We moved out of an apartment and back on the road because of the gap that starlink fills.
Used LTE before, but of course there is a more complicated logistical dance finding a site with good coverage… And $200+/mo in provider bills to carry AT&T and Verizon accounts with high data caps.
By shareholder, are you saying that anyone can buy shares? SpaceX is privately owned, it’s NOT traded publicly (yet). Musk owns SpaceX. Do you think Gates builds computers? Bezos drives an AMAZON van? Cuban works at Dude Wipes doing packaging? Lee Iacocca was the tire wrench guy at Chrysler? Hunter is an oil field worker?
Sneaky, Cancelproof-ish. 🙄 Have a great day. 😀 –Big Sister
Good morning Diane, and Happy Easter, Passover, Ramadan, etc. Wherever your faith resides during this Holiest of all weeks. Peace and love. 😀
Thanks, Cancelproof. Backatcha! (sp? 😆 ) 😀 –Diane
Hey Admin, maybe delete these politcal posts instead of agreeing with them.
I don’t necessarily agree with them, but I do delete the worst of them. Fine line we’re walking here. (BTW, I just found your comment in Spam, put there by our filter. I guess it didn’t like what you said. 😆 ) Have a good night. 🙂 –Diane at RVtravel.com
Move to Russia for Pravda.
Are You A “Real American Patriot”??? Seems Diane is trying her best to Not Censor…. (Assuming)….
You assume correctly, B N S. I’m much more lenient than the other moderators and only delete the really demeaning or obnoxious comments when they’re getting too personal (slamming other specific commenters or calling them names, for example). Like I’ve said, it’s a very fine line here, trying to keep folks on topic but not censoring their free speech. One thing that really gets me is the folks who are adamant about “free speech” and then slam someone else for saying what’s on their mind because they don’t agree with it. 🤔 Have a good afternoon/evening. 😀 –Diane aka “Big Sister” at RVtravel.com
I’ve never met a Patriot that supported censorship over the first amendment. Not familiar with the patriotic position of less speech.
Fact 🙂
Obviously, you’ve misinterpreted my point…
I dont think so. Your first paragraph made your feelings pretty clear I think, for the reply I gave you. I’m not trying to be argumentative with you though, I just feel Elon Musk is to space travel what Steve Jobs was to cell phones and Gates was to PCs. All 3, visionaries. As entertaining as Musk is, he is no PT Barnum as suggested by another tho. Jobs, Gates, Musk all with IQs in the 155 – 160 range. Same as Zuckerberg at around 145. All well above average.
I do agree with your next 2 paragraphs wholeheartedly though regarding how beneficial Starlink has been versus LTE via cell phones for the RV lifestyle.
May be true but it’s the system our politicians, who WE (may have) voted for, have put in place or at least allowed to happen. Space X has obvious evidence of success in hundreds of launches for Starlink and others, including the US Govt. And they have demonstrated surprising success in landing reusable boosters that NASA has been talking about for ages. Im all for keeping the US in the forefront of the space race, and transitioning to private launch infrastructure. It’s one of the few things the Fed gov does that has really benefitted Americans. Amazon, Apple, and other lesser known companies are salivating to compete with Space X, Starlink and Tesla. To me, Its dollars better spent than on wokeism.
Full agreement. 100 %.
To break it down into dollars and cents and I am not an Elon acolyte. SpaceX has saved US tax payers tens of billions upon stacks of other billions of dollars with it’s space transport for hire business model. Is the cup half full or half empty? Yes, Musk gets paid with tax dollars. If someone builds a better mouse trap then maybe NASA or the DOD chooses that company next time. SpaceX is doing what NASA couldn’t and is doing it ten cents on the dollar compared the NASA shuttle program. A full 90% savings. GO USA GO. 🇺🇸
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Your comments are pretty spot on, except the last. US government paid for most if not all the research in the reusable technology.
That’s some house of cards.
I’m not a Tesla fan. Don’t own one, won’t own one. However. The Ukrainians are pretty happy about Starlink and Putin is not. NASA seems to like Musks space taxi service as well or they wouldn’t be using it for military satellites. Has anyone else built a reusable rocket that lands on an X in the middle of the ocean yet? Oh yeah, Hard No.
We own a Tesla. We have had one very minor problem with it (a software update). We emailed Tesla. They sent a technician to our home the very next day. The problem was resolved and we have had nothing but a positive experience owning this vehicle for over two years. Of course, Tesla ownership cannot in any way compare with the experience of RV ownership, wherein nothing EVER goes wrong with an RV, and even if it does the manufacturer and dealer networks have only one interest: to get you back on the road as quickly and efficiently as possible. Except maybe our own experience with a new Thor class C. Owned it for 14 months and we are still waiting for the “We Owe” items to arrive and to be installed. But I’m sure we are the outlier here, and no one has had even the slightest problem with a new RV in recent times. Clearly, Tesla has a lot to learn from the RV manufacturers.
OMG. LOLOLOL😂🤣😂🤣😂🤣