SpaceX’s Starship Set to Launch Mock Satellites in Upcoming Test

WASHINGTON—On Friday, SpaceX, led by Elon Musk, announced that its forthcoming Starship test flight will attempt the rocket’s inaugural deployment of payloads in space by releasing 10 model Starlink satellites. This test is crucial for showcasing Starship’s capabilities in the satellite launch sector.

“During its time in space, Starship will release 10 Starlink simulators that are comparable in size and weight to next-generation Starlink satellites, marking the first step in a satellite deployment mission,” SpaceX stated in a blog update on its website.

This Starship flight, scheduled tentatively for later this month from SpaceX’s extensive Boca Chica facilities in Texas, will serve as the seventh demonstration in a test-to-failure approach to rocket development, where the company incorporates new upgrades with each flight.

In October, the “Super Heavy” first stage booster of Starship returned to the massive mechanical arms at its launch pad, marking a significant achievement for its fully reusable design.

During its sixth test flight in November, which was attended by President-elect Donald Trump, the mission met similar goals—except for the landing of Super Heavy, which was rerouted to target a water landing in the Gulf of Mexico due to a launchpad issue.

Starship is central to SpaceX’s aspirations in the satellite launch domain—an area in which it currently leads with the partially reusable Falcon 9—as well as Musk’s ambitions to colonize Mars.

The rocket’s capability, exceeding that of the Saturn V rocket utilized in the Apollo moon missions, is vital for launching large groups of satellites into low-Earth orbit, which is anticipated to rapidly enhance the Starlink satellite internet network.

SpaceX holds a contract with NASA to transport U.S. astronauts to the moon later this decade using Starship.

Musk, who is at the helm of SpaceX, has aligned closely with Trump, who has made the aim of reaching Mars a more central focus for the new administration.

By Joey Roulette