SpaceX today launched the six Direct Cell satellites into low-earth orbit for a brand new mobile connectivity solution with 2024’s first Falcon 9 mission.
The launch took place from Space Launch Complex 4 East 9 (SLC-4E) at Vandenberg Space Force Base in California. The mission achieved the liftoff on the initial time window.
The payload carried a set of 21 Starlink satellites including the first six Direct to Cell satellites that will enable cellular satellite connectivity services for network operators around the globe.
Elon Musk, Founder and CEO of SpaceX wrote on X (formerly Twitter) “This will allow for mobile phone connectivity anywhere on Earth. Note, this only supports – 7Mb per beam and the beams are very big, so while this is a great solution for locations with no cellular connectivity, it is not meaningfully competitive with existing terrestrial cellular networks.”
SpaceX Direct to Cell Starlink Satellite, image source – SpaceX
SpaceX’s direct-to-cell satellites are capable of providing services such as text messages, voice and internet data, and connectivity for IoT devices. The Starlink owner announced that the text services will kick off in 2024 and the rest will start operations in 2025.
Mission:
Following a successful liftoff, the first stage booster landed back on a droneship stationed in the Pacific Ocean at about 8:30 minutes mission. This is also the first mission for the first-stage booster.
Falcon 9’s first stage has landed on the Of Course I Still Love You droneship pic.twitter.com/Gatio1u7qi
— SpaceX (@SpaceX) January 3, 2024
Falcon 9’s first stage has landed on the Of Course I Still Love You droneship pic.twitter.com/Gatio1u7qi
— SpaceX (@SpaceX) January 3, 2024
Within an hour, SpaceX confirmed the deployment of 21 Starlink satellites into the LEO. Meanwhile, the operations and verification of the Direct to Cell satellites remained unknown for the time being.