SpaceX to light up Starlink on future private space station

Vast's Haven-1 space station will use laser satellite constellation communication technology. This is the first time that a commercial space station will be able to connect to Starlink.

Here's What We Know

The American aerospace company Vast has announced that Starlink will be installed on the private orbital station Haven-1. The station is scheduled to launch in 2025.

Haven-1 will be equipped with Starlink's "laser communication" technology, which can transmit broadband data into space at speeds of up to 100 Gbps per channel. SpaceX uses lasers primarily to extend coverage and reduce latency for Starlink users on Earth. Now they are applying this technology to real users in low-Earth orbit.

The results promise that the crew aboard Haven-1 will be able to connect their personal devices to the station's Wi-Fi with sufficient speed to stream video and assist in scientific experiments.

The crew will also be able to use Starlink access during their rest periods, allowing them to potentially play online games in space.

Both SpaceX and Vast claim that this partnership marks the first time a commercial space station will be equipped to connect to Starlink, which currently serves 2.7 million customers. The two companies have also reached agreements to involve Starlink in more Vast projects, including future space stations.

Last month, the president of SpaceX announced that the company is preparing to make the Starlink laser communication system commercially available. This means that other companies or satellite operators can use this technology to provide communications with their satellites. Such an expansion of the system could include the ability to install laser devices on other satellites, allowing them to communicate with Starlink satellites and provide better access to the Internet or other services in space.

Source: PCMag