SpaceX to launch first Starlink satellites testing ‘VisorSat’ to block sun
The launch of Falcon 9 in November 2019 carried 60 Starlink satellites.
SpaceX
It’s been almost a year since SpaceX launched its first batch of Starlink broadband satellitesThis triggers controversy over the surprising brightness of the orbiting router, which threatens to interfere with the observations of astronomers and other scientists.
The company was experimenting with a dark coating on the satellites to fix the problem. with supposedly mixed results. Then last month CEO Elon Musk reported that a “parasol” was developed to address the problem. The system called VisorSat is exactly what it sounds like: a range of dark tones that can be used to prevent the sun from sparkling from the bright parts of each satellite.
Musk said the first VisorSats would be included in the batch of 60 satellites scheduled to launch from Florida early Sunday morning, and that future launches should include all VisorSats as early as June.
It is not clear how many of the satellites to be launched on Sunday will be equipped with the VisorSat system. SpaceX did not immediately respond to a request for clarification.
The first stage rocket amplifier supporting this mission previously launched two Starlink missions and the VANTAGE Iridium-8 and Telstar 18 missions pic.twitter.com/rvQ6Mh4ZxZ
– SpaceX (@SpaceX) May 13, 2020
The first stage of the Falcon 9 rocket being deployed had previously been flown four times, including two of the previous seven Starlink launches. SpaceX is expected to attempt to land the missile on a drone ship in the Atlantic and catch the two halves of the nose cone with separate ships equipped with huge nets.
People in the U.S. have to get up early on Sunday to see the start. It is scheduled for 3:53 a.m. EDT from Florida’s Cape Canaveral. As usual, SpaceX will broadcast the launch live and we will embed it here as it becomes available. The stream usually starts about 15 minutes before the start.
Look at that:
Are SpaceX Starlink satellites ruining the night sky?
2:57
