SpaceX's fully reusable Starship rocket is garnering a growing number of private customers. In a press release. Sky Perfect JSat created a contract with SpaceX to launch the Superbird-9 communication satellite to geosynchronous transfer orbit in 2024.
There is little information about the deal, but according to the Tokyo-based company, the Superbird-9 is a high-throughput satellite that can "deliver broadcast and broadband missions in Ku band primarily over Japan and Eastern Asia in response to mobility and broadband demands," as reported by Interesting Engineering.
In a statement, "SKY Perfect JSAT and SpaceX will continue to work together ahead of the launch of the Superbird-9 Satellite."
The following morning after that statement, SpaceX confirmed the partnership via a tweet.
SKY Perfect JSAT has selected Starship for launch of its Superbird-9 communications satellite! https://t.co/sFZssT3omn pic.twitter.com/KDatzuWXaG
— SpaceX (@SpaceX) August 19, 2022
Private Customers Keep On Coming
Sky Perfect JSat is one of the companies that are stroking a deal with Starship, even before it reached its orbit. Another one is NASA, which has already penned a $2.9 billion agreement with Elon Musk's company to build a Starship model that can land astronauts on the moon for its Artemis III mission.
Additionally, Japanese Yusaku Maezawa has already booked a Starship trip around the moon for his dearMoon mission.
Starship is SpaceX's next-gen launch vehicle and will reduce the cost of launches because it's fully reusable. With the significant cost reduction, SpaceX hopes that this will allow it to send astronauts to Mars.
Aside from that, Musk also hopes to have more satellite launches, including their own Starlink broadband satellites. For the past years, the Falcon 9 rocket has been the go-to booster for SpaceX missions, but this time around, Starship can handle larger payloads.
Also Read: SpaceX Starship: Successful Orbital Launch is Between 1 to 12 Months Says Elon Musk-To Resume Tests?
SpaceX Preps for Starship's Launch
Starship has already secured Federal Aviation Authority (FAA) approval in June. Additionally, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has granted the company a radio-spectrum license application with a launch window that will start on September 1.
Although this is not a guarantee that we will see its launch on that date, there is that possibility, especially since they have already performed static fire engine tests with its first-stage Super Heavy boost and the Ship 24, which is the Starship prototype.
Once it is in space, however, it will still be some time before we see a Starship on a mission to the Moon and Mars.
When it does fly to orbit, it will do some from the South Texas launch facility and may take off after NASA's Artemis I mission.
Related Article: SpaceX's Holy Grail is Starship? Here's Why This Rocket is Irreplaceable
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Written by: April Fowell
