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Ruslan Avdeev
It’s been just over a month since SpaceX launched 21 next-generation mini-satellites for its Starlink constellation, and some have already attempted to return to Earth. Starlink V2 Mini satellite number 30062 entered Earth’s atmosphere on Monday over the coast of California. The impending satellite fall was reported last month.
V2 Mini in orbit. Image Source: HEO Robotics
This was stated by the famous astrophysicist Jonathan McDowell (Jonathan McDowell) from the Harvard-Smithsonian Center, who observes the objects of the Starlink group. According to him, there is a high probability that the satellite burned up during re-entry into the atmosphere. According to McDowell, three Starlink V2 Mini satellites were climbing to enter operational orbits, while one, on the contrary, performed a controlled de-orbit maneuver. Other observers have also followed the V2 Mini since its launch, including the unofficial Starlink Insider.
Last month, Starlink Insider was among the first to note that new-generation satellites recently launched into space were slowly falling instead of rising. SpaceX CEO Elon Musk admitted at the time that the satellites “had some problems” and that some of them would be deorbited while others would still be tested. The recently dropped V2 Mini may just be the first of a larger batch.
The launch of 21 next-generation Starlink satellites aboard a Falcon 9 rocket took place on February 27, 2023 (February 28 at 02:13 Moscow time). The V2 Mini satellites are smaller versions of spacecraft that will be used in the future. It is expected that they will help increase the bandwidth of the Internet constellation – this will compensate for the growing demand for the company’s services until it organizes large-scale launches of full-size Starlink V2 models into orbit.
To do this, SpaceX will need a heavy Starship rocket, the first launch of which may take place in the next few days. The fact is that the Falcon 9 rockets used today are not designed to launch new generation models into orbit, which makes them create mini versions. According to some reports, the company planned to send a second batch of V2 Mini into space last month, but now their fate is in question.