SpaceX is set to launch 60 satellites into space tomorrow as part of its Starlink mission.
The satellites will be launched into space on board a Falcon 9 rocket, from the Kennedy Space Centre in Florida.
The Kennedy Space Centre explained: “SpaceX is scheduled to launch the 12th mission of the constellation of networked satellites known as Starlink.
“The goal of Starlink is to create a network that will help provide internet services to those who are not yet connected, and to provide reliable and affordable internet across the globe.”
The launch is scheduled to take place at 13:46 BST (08:46 ET).
If you want to watch the launch live, you’ll be happy to hear that the launch will be live-streamed on SpaceX’s YouTube channel here.
Starlink satellites are released every two weeks or so, and are designed to deliver high speed broadband internet to remote areas around the world.
SpaceX explained: “With performance that far surpasses that of traditional satellite internet, and a global network unbounded by ground infrastructure limitations, Starlink will deliver high speed broadband internet to locations where access has been unreliable, expensive, or completely unavailable.”
So far, SpaceX has launched 597 Starlink satellites, but has plans to launch a total of nearly 12,000 satellites into orbit.
While most satellites orbit at a height of around 1,000km above Earth, the Starlink satellites orbit at a lower heigh of around 550km, meaning they're regularly visible.
This week, eagle-eyed Brits will have several opportunities to spot the Starlink satellites themselves.
When can you see Starlink satellites from the UK?
According to Find Starlink, the satellites will be visible at:
9:32 pm, 2 Sep 2020
5:19 am, 4 Sep 2020
5:00 am, 6 Sep 2020
