SpaceX launched 22 more of its Starlink internet satellites toward orbit on August 26. The Sunday night lift off brought the total number of Starlink satellites in space to over 5,000, according to Space.com, and the spaceflight company isn’t slowing down. Space X has authorization to launch 12,000 more Starlink spacecrafts and is waiting on permission to launch an additional 30,000.
The milestone is a continuation of SpaceX’s goal to provide high-speed, low-latency internet service around the world. The satellite constellation orbits about 35,000 km closer to the earth than other satellites which shortens round-trip data times for improved speed. The vast number of satellites helps provide high-speed home internet service to households that might’ve otherwise had no options. SpaceX wasn’t immediately available for comment.
Starlink isn’t as widely available currently and has a years-long waitlist, according to Satellite Internet. In May, Starlink released a new group of plans with sky-high internet speeds for an equally steep price. Plans range from $250 to $5,000 a month in addition to a one-time equipment fee of $2,500. The kit includes a Starlink dish, power supply, wall mount, Wi-Fi router, required cables and a base.
Starlink offers multiple plans for customers. Business-focused Priority Internet offers with unlimited standard data, network priority and round-the-clock customer support, as well as a public IPv4 address starting at 1TB for $250 a month. The company’s Mobile Priority plans offer internet speeds up to 220Mbps and are geared towards emergency response vehicles, shuttles, trucks and buses. The company began selling its Residential and Roam internet service plans and equipment at Home Depot in May. Residential plans cost about $110 a month and works best for users at fixed locations. The Roam plan offers on-demand service anywhere Starlink offers coverage for $135 a month.
Last year, T-Mobile and SpaceX unveiled a partnership aimed at delivering more comprehensive coverage with the carrier’s coverage and the spaceflight company’s satellite network. The FCC approved a proposal to aid satellite providers offering wireless service from space, but the ambitious news was met with opposition from rival carriers.
To find out if Starlink internet is available in your area, you can use the Starlink app or visit the company’s website.