The Starlink-1898 satellite, designated as 2020-074G and identified by NORAD CAT ID 46745, was launched on October 24, 2020, from the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station (LC40) using a Falcon 9 launch vehicle. It is owned and manufactured by SpaceX and serves as a communication satellite. The spacecraft has dimensions of 0.2 meters in length, 2.8 meters in diameter, and a span of 9 meters. Its dry mass is 248 kilograms, and it had a launch mass of 260 kilograms. Equipped with Ku/Ka-band payload (all) and optical inter-satellite links on prototypes, the satellite uses solar arrays and batteries for power supply and krypton ion thrusters as its motor system. The shape of the spacecraft is described as "Box + pan," but no further details are provided regarding its reflective coefficient or attitude control systems.
Starlink is a satellite constellation developed by SpaceX with the aim of providing global broadband internet coverage. Thousands of small satellites are deployed in low Earth orbit (LEO), enabling high-speed internet access even in remote areas. However, the rapid increase in satellites raises concerns about space debris and the potential for collisions, which can lead to further debris creation and endanger other spacecraft. Additionally, the sheer number of Starlink satellites can affect astronomical observations by increasing light pollution. Proper deorbiting plans and international coordination are essential to mitigate these challenges and ensure long-term sustainability in space.