Elon Musk's Starlink project, which seeks to provide global broadband connectivity through a constellation of satellites via a constellation, has already shipped 100,000 terminals.
This is a remarkable pace for the capital-intensive company that began satellite launches in November 2019, and launched its $99/month beta program to select customers about a year later. SpaceX has launched over 1,700 satellites since then, and has received more than half a million additional orders.
It's not surprising that SpaceX has been able to accelerate its Starlink service in such a short time, since the company launched the satellites on its Falcon 9 rocket. Vertical integration is a key strategy for SpaceX, which is now the most valuable company in the world.
Starlinks beta customers are often located in rural or remote areas where broadband access is scarce or nonexistent. The service comes with a $499 upfront fee. This covers a starter kit that will get them started: a user terminal (which SpaceX affectionately calls Dishy McFlatface), Wi Fi router, power supply and cables, as well as a mounting tripod.
Starlink's rapid growth is a result of an aggressive strategy. However, it's only the beginning of the project if SpaceX has any comments. SpaceX hopes to launch approximately 30,000 Starlink satellites into space and increase its customer base to millions. SpaceX submitted an August 18 Federal Communication Commission application for the next-generation Starlink system. It proposed two configurations of the constellation. One would be powered by its Starship heavy-lift rocket.
This constellation would have 29,988 satellites total. SpaceX has also suggested an alternative configuration with its Falcon 9 rocket. Starship's massive payload capacity is the main advantage.
SpaceX has discovered ways to use the advanced capabilities of Starship, its new launch vehicle that can deliver more mass to orbit faster and more efficiently. This, in combination with the reuse capability of the upperstage, allows SpaceX to launch more often, SpaceX stated in an amended application.
