SpaceX begins launching V2 Mini Starlink satellites

Elon Musk’s SpaceX has launched the first batch of next-generation Starlink internet satellites as the company upgrades and builds its orbital network.

The Falcon 9 rocket carried 21 satellites, known as the “V2 Mini” satellites, into orbit on Monday. The satellite is the first iteration of Starlink’s “Gen2” plan, which the Federal Communications Commission approved in December.

Musk shared a video from the V2 Mini satellite released from the rocket into orbit. While the company’s first-generation model launches carried about 50 to 60 satellites at a time, the new spacecraft are larger and heavier than before, meaning each Falcon 9 launch carries fewer satellites. The company plans to eventually use the Starship rocket, which is under development, for future second-generation Starlink missions.

Before the launch, SpaceX highlighted the improved capabilities of the V2 Minis, such as “more powerful phased array antennas” and “new argon Hall thrusters” for maneuvering in orbit. The company says the V2 Mini satellites add four times the network capacity per satellite compared to previous iterations.

In particular, Monday also marks the 100th consecutive opportunity that SpaceX has successfully tested and landed a Falcon 9 rocket booster after launch – a record that dates back to February 16, 2021. The company is conducting orbital rocket launches at an unprecedented rate, with missions every four days flat -average in 2023.

The company has launched around 4,000 Starlink satellites to date, with the network reaching 1 million customers in December across a range of product offerings – with services for residential, business, RV, maritime and aviation customers.

Last week, SpaceX adjusted the price of its residential Starlink service based on capacity demand.