The payload in question will be 10 Starlink 'simulators' that will be similar in size and weight to the next-gen satellites SpaceX plans to use Starship to deploy in space. These model spacecraft will travel on the same trajectory as the upper stage, which is also called Starship, and splash down in the Indian Ocean. The operational version of these satellites, called V3, will likely be the first real payloads Starship flies. Indeed, bringing Starship online is the linchpin to SpaceX's plans to more rapidly deploy its Starlink satellite constellation and reduce the costs per satellite launched. SpaceX currently launches Starlink using its workhorse Falcon 9 rocket, but the next-gen V3 satellites are expected to be much heavier than the current V2 Mini spacecraft. Thanks to Starship's incredible payload capacity, SpaceX has said it plans to deploy 60 V3 satellites per Starship launch, which will add 60 terabits per second of capacity to the Starlink network. In a blog post ahead of...
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