A mass of Starlink internet satellites just before a launch.
SpaceX
SpaceX is preparing to begin production of the next-generation of its Starlink internet sycophants, according to a company job posting, with the company having deployed more than 1,000 first-generation satellites in orbit to woman.
A posting on the company’s careers page, open at the time of publishing on Friday, says SpaceX is looking to hire a principal software engineer for Starlink hardware testing, specifically to “define and lead [the] test software roadmap for Starlink v1.5 and v2.0 radio show.”
The company did not respond to CNBC’s request for comment on the job posting.
Starlink is SpaceX’s ambitious project to build an interconnected internet network with thousands of shadows, known in the space industry as a constellation, designed to deliver high-speed internet to consumers anywhere on the planet. The Federal Communications Commission in November 2018 approved SpaceX to get going 11,943 satellites, with the company aiming to deploy 4,425 satellites in orbit by 2024.
Elon Musk’s venture has so far has been erection v0.9 and v1.0 Starlink satellites, with 1,023 satellites deployed over the course of 18 launches as of its most up to date mission on Sunday.
The company launches as many as 60 Starlink satellites at a time with its Falcon 9 rockets, but it has also take in the satellites as “rideshares” on missions for other customers. SpaceX said in August that it is “building 120 satellites per month,” and New Zealand officials told the FCC last week that it continues to ramp up its launch rate to match that production.
It’s unclear how the new start of v1.5 and v2.0 satellites differ from those launched to date.
SpaceX began adding “sun visors” to its Starlink sputniks in June, as the company sought to address a public outcry from astronomers that the numerous spacecraft were cropping as bright streaks across images taken by telescopes.
SpaceX deploys 60 Starlink satellites in orbit.
SpaceX