It’s taking longer than expected, but SpaceX CEO Elon Musk is hoping 2024 will be the year the company finally launches Starlink satellites using the Starship craft.
Musk made the remarks during the International Astronautical Congress 2023 event, where he was asked when Starship would be used to deploy Starlink satellites. “I think there’s a good chance we start deploying Starlink V3 satellites next year, roughly a year from now,” he said.
The statement also appears to be the first time SpaceX has mentioned V3 Starlink satellites, an indicator the company is preparing more upgrades to the space-based internet network.
Currently, SpaceX has been launching V2 Starlink satellites using the reusable Falcon 9 rocket. But so far, the craft has been limited to taking up only 22 V2 satellites during each launch.
In contrast, Starship promises to accelerate the satellite deployment since it's large enough to carry 50 to 100 Starlink satellites per launch. The only problem is that Starship remains a work-in-progress, which has delayed Musk’s plans to operate the craft this year. In April, the company conducted a test flight that resulted in an explosion and environmental damage. SpaceX is now waiting for regulatory approval for a second text flight.
Musk added: “The hardest part about this, or the part that will take the longest, is solving for safe ship reentry and landing.” So in the meantime, SpaceX has to settle for using the smaller Falcon 9 rockets.
Still, Musk said one drawback to the Falcon 9 is how it can take “at least a few days” to refurbish and fly them again. Starship, on the other hand, “is designed to be fully and rapidly reusable.”
Currently, Starlink spans over 4,800 active satellites. But the company is aiming to expand it to tens of thousands of satellites, assuming SpaceX can get regulatory approval.