Falcon 9 launches 21 Starlink satellites to orbit from California, including six with Direct-to-Cell capabilities
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SpaceX launches satellites for direct-to-cell services

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In collaboration with T-Mobile, SpaceX has successfully launched six satellites featuring direct-to-cell (DTC) services, representing a significant leap forward in satellite communication technology.

The launch saw a Falcon 9 rocket lift off successfully from Vandenberg Space Force Base, carrying 21 Starlink satellites, of which six are equipped with DTC capabilities for mobile network operators.

This launch also marked the first flight for the rocket’s first-stage booster, which SpaceX plans to land on its droneship for reuse.

Liftoff occurred at 7:44 p.m. PST (10:44 p.m. EST, 0344 UTC) from Space Launch Complex 4 East (SLC-4E) at Vandenberg Space Force Base in California.

In a statement, SpaceX said that adding DTC will “enable mobile network operators around the world to provide seamless global access to texting, calling and browsing… on land, lakes or coastal waters.”

During an August 2022 event featuring SpaceX founder Elon Musk and T-Mobile CEO and President Mike Sievert, Musk called the new addition “a massive game changer” that would help eliminate dead zones across the globe.

“This really is a big deal,” Musk said during the presentation. “Even if an entire region or country lost connectivity because of a severe hurricane or floods or fires, tornadoes, earthquakes… even if all the cell towers were taken out, your phone would still work.”

With direct-to-cell technology (DTC), cell phones can now connect directly to satellites, offering coverage even in areas where traditional cell towers are unavailable.

Also Read: India to launch communications satellite on SpaceX Falcon-9

This breakthrough is expected to revolutionize mobile communication by providing connectivity in remote locations, during natural disasters, or in any situation where the ground infrastructure is compromised.

The launch of these satellites marks a significant step towards enhancing global communication capabilities. The Starlink constellation aims to provide fast, low-latency internet service to regions where ground-based internet is unreliable, unavailable, or expensive.

Each Starlink v1.5 satellite is equipped with high-tech communication and cost-saving technology and has a compact design with a mass of 307 kg.

The Starlink v2 Mini satellites, on the other hand, come with a new argon Hall thruster for on-orbit manoeuvring, offering 4x more capacity than their predecessors.

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