The European Union and China are investing heavily in their own satellite megaconstellations to compete with SpaceX's dominance in the space industry.
Elon Musk’s Space X currently dominates the satellite launch market thanks to its workhorse Falcon 9 rocket. The company’s Starlink internet satellites, meanwhile, account for almost 60 percent of all satellites orbiting Earth. This has provided the US, and Elon Musk himself, with a strong strategic and political advantage – Starlink has been key for communications in wartorn Ukraine, for example.
Now, the European Union and China are looking to bridge the gap by launching their own internet satellite megaconstellations. The EU announced $10.5 billion (€10 billion) in funding for the Iris2 satellite program, while China launched the first of its GuoWang megaconstellation satellites.SpaceX’s partly reusable Falcon 9 rocket, first launched in 2010, dramatically drove down the cost of satellite launches. Unsurprisingly, Elon Musk’s private space company leveraged that advantage to give itself a boost in other areas. Today, SpaceX has almost 7,000 operational Starlink satellites in orbit and the company says it serves roughly 5 million customers in over 100 countries. All of this means other governments and countries have a long way to go in their efforts to catch up with SpaceX. On December 16, China launched the first of its Guowang megaconstellation satellites. A Long March 5B rocket flew from Wenchang Satellite Launch Center at 5:00 am ET (1000 UTC). It carried the first batch of satellites for the Guowang (“national net”) system.. It also announced the rocket was carrying the satellite Internet low-orbit 01 satellite group, though it didn’t confirm the number of satellites launched. Meanwhile, the EU has announced its Iris2 space program. That program will launch just under 300 internet satellites to space to serve European citizens. “It is a significant step towards Europe’s sovereignty and secure connectivity,” an EU official said. China is working toward a 38,000-satellite mega constellatio
SPACE STARLINK EU CHINA SATELLITE LAUNCHES
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
SpaceX launch of NASA's new 3D-sky-mapping satellite set for February 2025Julian Dossett is a freelance writer living in Santa Fe, New Mexico. He primarily covers the rocket industry and space exploration and, in addition to science writing, contributes travel stories to New Mexico Magazine. In 2022 and 2024, his travel writing earned IRMA Awards. Previously, he worked as a staff writer at CNET.
Read more »
Mysterious Spy Satellite Mission Set for SpaceX Launch TonightSpaceX partners with the National Reconnaissance Office to deploy secretive satellites in late-night launch from California.
Read more »
![FCC allows T-Mobile to launch satellite service; SpaceX says beta about to kick off [UPDATED]](https://i.headtopics.com/images/2024/11/26/phonearena/fcc-allows-t-mobile-to-launch-satellite-service-sp-fcc-allows-t-mobile-to-launch-satellite-service-sp-F1E2E6599D8D99C4078D1B96402885DB.webp?w=640)
FCC allows T-Mobile to launch satellite service; SpaceX says beta about to kick off [UPDATED]Anam Hamid is a computer scientist turned tech journalist who has a keen interest in the tech world, with a particular focus on smartphones and tablets. She has previously written for Android Headlines and has also been a ghostwriter for several tech and car publications.
Read more »
SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket to launch Sirius XM radio satellite this morningJosh Dinner is Space.com's Content Manager. He is a writer and photographer with a passion for science and space exploration, and has been working the space beat since 2016.
Read more »
Ukrainian-American Non-Profit Objects to SpaceX Satellite PlanThe Ukrainian Congress Committee of America (UCCA) has petitioned the FCC to delay SpaceX's authorization to launch nearly 22,500 satellites into low-earth orbit. The main concern is the potential misuse of SpaceX's Starlink technology.
Read more »
SpaceX Falcon 9 Successfully Launches NROL-149 Spy Satellite MissionSpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket launched the NROL-149 mission for the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO), marking the sixth launch of the agency's proliferated architecture. The booster landed on the droneship 'Of Course I Still Love You' after delivering the classified payloads into orbit.
Read more »