Elon Musk Launches Prototypes For A Massive Network Of Satellites In Space

by Tim Pearce

SpaceX, a company built by Elon Musk to colonize other planets, sent two prototype communications satellites into orbit Thursday, The Wall Street Journal reports.

The satellites were a part of the company’s 18th consecutive commercial launch. The prototypes were sent to gauge the possibility of creating a network of thousands of satellites capable of providing internet to billions of people.

Musk confirmed the success of the prototypes on Twitter.

First two Starlink demo satellites, called Tintin A & B, deployed and communicating to Earth stations pic.twitter.com/TfI53wHEtz

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) February 22, 2018

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Musk also tested a device to catch the nose cone, or fairing, of the rocket carrying the payload. The device was a large net attached to a boat meant to catch the equipment as it fell back to Earth after detaching itself. The net’s test was less successful.

Missed by a few hundred meters, but fairing landed intact in water. Should be able catch it with slightly bigger chutes to slow down descent.

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) February 22, 2018

Musk’s project had the approval of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), and FCC Chairman Ajit Pai actively pushed for the project, CNN reports.

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