SpaceX Launches 60 Satellites to Provide Internet

With a Twitter post, SpaceX launched a rocket that will deploy 60 satellites to supply broadband across much of the world: Also via Twitter, founder Elon Musk defined the mission: SpaceX gave more detail: At 10 p.m. yesterday, it works:…

Published May 24, 2019, 5:10am ET · 1 min read

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A white SpaceX rocket lifts off the launchpad at night, surrounded by brilliant orange and yellow flames and white exhaust smoke at its base. Tall metal lattice launch towers flank the rocket. The 'SPACEX' logo is visible on the rocket's side and on a white spherical storage tank in the background.
A SpaceX rocket launches into the night, symbolizing the company's ambitious wireless initiatives predicted to disrupt the telecommunications industry. © jurvetson / Flickr

With a Twitter post, SpaceX launched a rocket that will deploy 60 satellites to supply broadband across much of the world:

Also via Twitter, founder Elon Musk defined the mission:

SpaceX gave more detail:

At 10 p.m. yesterday, it works:

And the initial part of the mission ends:

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The SpaceX plan means that broadband, a key to the worldwide distribution of news, information and entertainment, could be available to hundreds of millions of people normal broadband deployments cannot reach.

However, how the plans will work commercially is another matter. It is another one of Musk’s longshots, like Tesla, which is currently in trouble with electric car competition, mediocre self-driving capacity and its funding.

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