SpaceX Releases Video Of Satellites Being Deployed

Elon Musk's space exploration company SpaceX has released a video that shows its Starlink satellites being deployed - check it out below:

The video was posted on Twitter and YouTube, showing the moment the sequence actually takes place, as filmed on SpaceX's seventh Starlink mission, which consists of thousands of mass-produced satellites entering Earth's orbit to provide satellite internet access.

The camera is attached to one of the fairing covers and shows the shield as it pulls away from the spacecraft.

This follows the launch of the 8th Starlink mission on 3 June, which saw 60 satellites setting off from onboard a Falcon 9 rocket at Cape Canaveral, as part of the tech giant's aim to deliver high-speed broadband to the world.

Ahead of the launch, NASA's Kennedy Space Centre said: "SpaceX is scheduled to launch the 8th 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."

SpaceX explained on its website: "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."

PA

Last month, SpaceX also managed managed to successfully deliver two astronauts to the International Space Station (ISS).

The launch marked the first time US astronauts have been sent into orbit from US soil since NASA's Space Shuttle system was retired nine years ago. It was also the first time NASA astronauts had been sent into space on a rocket built by a private company.

Prior to docking, NASA astronauts Doug Hurley and Bob Behnken practised some manual flying when they got within a couple of hundred metres from the ISS. The Crew Dragon craft is capable of docking automatically, but this was a test flight, and NASA wanted to ensure that astronauts can successfully dock if there's ever a computer malfunction.

SpaceX founder Elon Musk said he was 'overcome with emotion' watching his rocket successfully launch after many years of hard work.

The billionaire said: "I'm really quite overcome with emotion on this day. It's kind of hard to talk, frankly. I've spent 18 years working toward this goal, so it's hard to believe that it's happened.

"It is a little hard to process. I think at this point I haven't sorted out my emotions.

"This is hopefully the first step on a journey towards civilisation on Mars, of life becoming multi-planetary, a base on the moon and expanding beyond Earth."

Topics: Science, elon musk, SpaceX, space

Amelia Ward

Amelia is a journalist at LADbible. After studying journalism at Liverpool John Moores and Salford Uni (don't ask), she went into PR and then the world of music. After a few years working on festivals and events, she went back to her roots. In her spare time, Amelia likes music, Liverpool FC, and spending good, quality time with her cat, Paul. You can contact Amelia at [email protected].

@ameliasward