Global Economy

Elon Musk gets head start on Jeff Bezos with launch of SpaceX’s satellites


SAN FRANCISCO: Elon Musk’s SpaceX has made a business out of launching satellites for commercial customers, Nasa and the US military.

On Thursday evening, the company will launch orbital objects of its own in a key step toward creating a space-based constellation that beams broadband to underserved areas across the globe.

It’s a bet Musk is making along with fellow billionaire Jeff Bezos on bringing in revenue as an internet provider from outer space.

Musk founded SpaceX in 2002 with a goal of colonising Mars. In a phone call with journalists, Musk sounded cautious but excited. “It’s possible that some of these satellites may not work,” said Musk.

“I do believe we will be successful, but it is far from a sure thing.” The first 60 operational satellites for SpaceX’s project, called

Starlink, are slated to launch aboard one of the company’s Falcon 9 rockets at around 10:30 pm local time Thursday from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida, after wind conditions caused a 24-hour delay to the original schedule.

After the launch and payload deployment, SpaceX will attempt to land the Falcon 9’s first stage on a drone ship in the Atlantic Ocean.





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