SpaceX, the Elon Musk-led aerospace firm, is planning 12 launches/month (which totals 144 Falcon flights) or one launch in under three days, according to a report from ArsTechnica. The aim is to increase launch frequencies from next year. These Starlink satellites shall support satellite-based cellular connection, which is slated to debut in 2024 as a text-based service. Voice calls and data functions will reportedly arrive in 2025 or later.
In 2022, the space agency unleashed 61 missions. 88 rockets were launched in the previous 12 months and a test flight of the flagship Starship spacecraft to Mars. A successful feat in the rescue and recovery of the Falcon 9 boosters with payload fairings has become the driver of success, the report noted.
"With our two million users, we need that constellation refreshed. We're also going to look at direct to cell communications with Starlink, and that's a key feature that gets added next year with those 144 flights," said a SpaceX official cited by the news outlet.
Meanwhile, in a second mission in 24 hours, the agency launched the SpaceX Falcon 9 on Sunday with 23 internet satellites of Starlink in orbit. According to Space.com, these satellites have been scheduled to be engaged from the upper stage of Falcon 9 after around 65.5 minutes of release.
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On October 21, SpaceX launched 21 Starlink satellites for communication. For the unversed, Starlink offers affordable internet services to users across the globe. According to the report, around 4,900 Starlink satellites are currently in operation.
The Tesla CEO's company, which minted about $1.4 billion in revenue in 2022, witnessed a steep jump from $222 million in 2021. The last year's figures are 11 billion less compared to the projections. SpaceX is reportedly exploring means to enter the Indian peninsula to offer Starlink-backed internet services.