In a recent presentation by SpaceX founder Elon Musk, the company revealed ambitious plans to test the payload door of the Starship launch system, aptly nicknamed the “the world’s largest PEZ Dispenser.” Instead of candy, it is designed for deploying Starlink satellites (as depicted in the image above). Starship is expected to play a crucial role in rapidly expanding SpaceX’s Starlink satellite constellation.
Musk expressed optimism about testing the Starship satellite deployment mechanism by the end of this year. He showcased the company’s achievements and future goals through the presentation, featuring impressive renders and a video animation demonstrating how Starship will deploy satellites resembling a PEZ candy dispenser (video linked below). The upcoming tests for the Starship payload door are specifically aimed at deploying full-sized Starlink V2 satellites.
In 2022, residents in South Texas captured images of the Starship prototype with what appeared to be a payload dispenser door, providing a tangible glimpse into the company’s ongoing development efforts, shown below.
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Notably, these satellites are larger than the current V2 ‘Mini’ satellites deployed on Falcon 9 rockets. Currently, SpaceX launches around 23 Starlink V2 ‘Mini’ satellites atop partially-reusable Falcon 9 rockets. In contrast, Starship, designed as a fully-reusable spacecraft, has the capacity to launch large payloads to Low Earth Orbit, offering a cost-effective solution for spaceflights.
SpaceX President Gwynne Shotwell had previously highlighted Starship’s ability to deploy hundreds of Starlink first-generation satellites in a single launch. While details about the number of Starlink V2 satellites on a Starship mission remain undisclosed, Musk hinted in 2022 that each V2 satellite weighs approximately 1.25 tons, suggesting the potential for around 90 satellites on a single Starship mission. The spacecraft will be capable of carrying 150 tons to Low Earth Orbit.
The company has already secured approval from the U.S. Federal Communications Commission to launch 7,500 Starlink Gen2 (second generation) satellites. Starship is necessary to complete the constellation because Falcon 9 lacks the required volume and mass capacity for Starlink V2. Without Starship’s frequent flights, Starlink V2 could face significant limitations and deployment delays.
As SpaceX pushes the boundaries of space exploration, the upcoming tests of the Starship ‘PEZ Dispenser’ payload door will mark a pivotal step towards the realization of ambitious satellite deployment goals.
VIDEO: SpaceX founder Elon Musk ‘All-hands’ Company Presentation
In 2023, SpaceX completed 96 successful missions, safely flew 12 more astronauts to orbit, launched two flight tests of Starship, and more than doubled the number of people around the world connected by @Starlink.
— SpaceX (@SpaceX) January 12, 2024
Watch @elonmusk deliver a company update: pic.twitter.com/7zeTlQLgp9
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