— SpaceX (@SpaceX) February 11, 2018 Not much is known about Starlink and the test satellites as SpaceX has been tight-lipped about the whole thing, and for good reason. The company faces tough competition from rivals OneWeb, Samsung, Boeing, and Telesat. Both OneWeb (which boasts such partners as Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin and Richard Branson’s Virgin Orbit) and Samsung have plans to create similar communications constellations using satellites in low-Earth orbit. But thanks to a publically available government application, some details about the test satellites are known. The twin microsats measure 43 inches by 28 inches by 28 inches (1.1 m x 0.7 m x 0.7 m), weigh 880 pounds (400 kg) each, and are powered by a pair of 26-foot long (8 m) solar panels. Once at an altitude of 700 miles (1,125 km), SpaceX will test the satellite’s various systems, including its phased array broadband antenna. The company says it will conduct tests of the Ku-band (12-14 GHz) radio communication system about once every 0.9 days for durations lasting less than 15 minutes. Ground stations have been situated in Washington state, California, and Texas. SpaceX will also be testing satellite communications on mobile vans equipped with receiving terminals. News of Saturday’s SpaceX launch comes a few weeks after a Federal Communications Commission report revealing the number of Americans without access to both fixed and mobile broadband at around 34.5 million (as of 2014). Via the National Broadband Plan, the U.S. government is currently trying to bring high-speed internet to places where service is lacking, especially rural areas. And as if on queue, the FCC just endorsed a SpaceX application to provide broadband services to the U.S. and worldwide using low-orbit satellites. “To bridge America’s digital divide, we’ll have to use innovative technologies. SpaceX’s application—along with those of other satellite companies seeking licenses or access to the U.S. market for non-geostationary satellite orbit systems—involves one such innovation,” stated FCC chairman Ajit Pai in a statement. “Satellite technology can help reach Americans who live in rural or hard-to-serve places where fiber optic cables and cell towers do not reach. And it can offer more competition where terrestrial internet access is already available.” Similar applications by OneWeb, Space Norway, and Telesat for the U.S. market have already been approved by the FCC, reports Reuters. That being the case, and seeing as the FCC has approved Saturday’s launch, it should only be a matter of time before the rocket company—and now satellite company—gets the green light as well. As per usual, you can watch Saturday’s launch at SpaceX’s webcast page. Update: Some readers are taking issue with the term “microsatellite” to describe SpaceX’s Microsat 2a and 2b. The label of microsatellite is indeed incorrect, as by definition microsats are between 10 to 100 kg (it goes by weight). Microsat 2a and 2b each weigh 400 kg, classifying them as “mini satellites.” As to why SpaceX is referring to them as microsats… ¯_(ツ)_/¯