SpaceX launches 'Jupiter 3', world's largest private communication satellite

Tags: Science and Technology International News

On July 27, 2023, SpaceX launched the world's largest private communications satellite 'Jupiter 3' using a Falcon Heavy rocket from Launch Complex-39A of NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

An Overview of the News 

• The 'Jupiter 3' satellite, developed by Maxar Technologies in Palo Alto, California, holds the record as the largest commercial communications satellite ever built.

• This upcoming launch marks the seventh mission of SpaceX's triple-booster rocket, the Falcon Heavy, which first attracted widespread attention during its debut in 2018.

About 'Jupiter 3'

• Its size would be comparable to the wingspan of a commercial airliner, measuring between 130 and 160 feet (40 to 50 m). Its larger size will enable it to double current internet capacity to 500 Gbps, significantly improving connectivity in areas with limited cable and fibre options.

• Hughes will integrate the 'Jupiter 3' into its existing satellite network, allowing HughesNet customers in the United States and Latin America to access high-speed satellite broadband at speeds of up to 100 Mbps.

• The capabilities of satellites extend far beyond regular Internet access. It will support in-flight Wi-Fi, ensuring connectivity for passengers during air travel. It will also provide maritime connectivity, allowing internet access for ships at sea.

• 'Jupiter 3' will play a key role in enhancing enterprise networks, meeting the connectivity needs of businesses across North and South America.

• Additionally, the satellite will serve as a reliable backhaul solution for mobile network operators (MNOs), ensuring smoother and more efficient data transmission within the region's mobile networks.

• One of its essential applications is providing community Wi-Fi solutions, which help bridge the digital divide and extend Internet access to disadvantaged areas in North and South America.

About NASA

• NASA was formed on July 19, 1948, under the National Aeronautics and Space Act, replacing its predecessor, the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA).

• NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration

• Headquarters - Washington D.C.

• Administrator - Bill Nelson