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Space

SpaceX says tests show Starlink satellites deliver high-speed internet

By Leah Crane

3 September 2020

New Scientist. Science news and long reads from expert journalists, covering developments in science, technology, health and the environment on the website and the magazine.

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launched on 3 September, carrying the 12th batch of Starlink satellites

SIPA USA/PA Images

SpaceX is starting to release more details about its Starlink internet satellites. On 3 September, the firm launched its 12th batch of the satellites from Cape Canaveral in Florida and released some early information about the satellite constellation’s capabilities.

So far, SpaceX has launched 715 Starlink satellites, with plans to put nearly 12,000 satellites in orbit and possibly expand to as many as 42,000. The goal of this swarm of satellites is to provide internet around the…

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