Space Exploration Technologies Corp.

, commonly referred to as SpaceX, is an

American spacecraft manufacturer, launch service provider, defense contractor and satellite
communications company headquartered in Hawthorne, California. The company was founded in
2002 by Elon Musk with the goal of reducing space transportation costs and to colonize Mars.
The company currently operates the Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy rockets along with
the Dragon spacecraft.

The company was founded in 2002 by Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla Motors, who was previously one
of the founders of PayPal; It was established with the aim of reducing the cost of space
transportation to enable the colonization of Mars. To date, Falcon 1 and Falcon 9 have developed
space launch vehicle/rocket systems called Falcon Heavy, designed from the ground up for
reusability, and the Dragon (unmanned) spacecraft launched by Falcon 9 to deliver supplies to
the International Space Station. .

SpaceX is the first private company to develop a liquid-propellant rocket that has reached orbit; to
launch, orbit, and recover a spacecraft; to send a spacecraft to the International Space Station;
and to send astronauts to the International Space Station. It is also the first organization of any
type to achieve a vertical propulsive landing of an orbital rocket booster and the first to reuse
such a booster. The company's Falcon 9 rockets have landed and reflown more than 200 times.[9]

A low Earth orbit (LEO) is, as the name suggests, an orbit that is relatively close to Earth’s
surface. It is normally at an altitude of less than 1000 km but could be as low as 160 km
above Earth – which is low compared to other orbits, but still very far above Earth’s surface.
LEO’s close proximity to Earth makes it useful for several reasons. It is the orbit most
commonly used for satellite imaging, as being near the surface allows it to take images of
higher resolution. It is also the orbit used for the International Space Station (ISS), as it is
easier for astronauts to travel to and from it at a shorter distance. Satellites in this orbit travel
at a speed of around 7.8 km per second; at this speed, a satellite takes approximately 90
minutes to circle Earth, meaning the ISS travels around Earth about 16 times a day.
Starlink is a satellite internet constellation operated by American aerospace company SpaceX,
[3]
providing coverage to over 60 countries. It also aims for global mobile phone service after 2023.

[
SpaceX started launching Starlink satellites in 2019. As of August 2023, it consists of over 5,000
mass-produced small satellites in low Earth orbit (LEO),[5] which communicate with designated
ground transceivers. Nearly 12,000 satellites are planned to be deployed, with a possible later
extension to 42,000. SpaceX announced reaching more than 1 million subscribers in December
2022,[6] 1.5 million subscribers in May 2023,[7] and 2 million subscribers in September 2023.[8] It
has had a key role in the Russo-Ukrainian War.[9] SpaceX started launching Starlink satellites in
2019. As of August 2023, it consists of over 5,000 mass-produced small satellites in low Earth
orbit (LEO),[5] which communicate with designated ground transceivers. Nearly 12,000 satellites
are planned to be deployed, with a possible later extension to 42,000. SpaceX announced
reaching more than 1 million subscribers in December 2022,[6] 1.5 million subscribers in May
2023,[7] and 2 million subscribers in September 2023.[8] It has had a key role in the Russo-
Ukrainian War.[9]

"After SpaceX Starlink Launch, a Fear of Satellites That Outnumber All Visible Stars - Images of the
Starlink constellation in orbit have rattled astronomers around the world". The New York Times.

cDowell, Jonathan (4 May 2023). "Starlink Launch Statistics". planet4589. Retrieved 5 May 2023.

1. "SpaceX". SpaceX. Archived from the original on 7 March 2011. Retrieved 27

June 2023.
https://www.esa.int/ESA_Multimedia/Images/2020/03/Low_Earth_orbit