https://gizmodo.com/spacexs-next-gen-starlink-satellites-have-started-falli-1850299668 * The A.V. Club * Deadspin * Gizmodo * Jalopnik * Jezebel * Kotaku * Quartz * The Root * The Takeout * * The Onion * * The Inventory Send us a Tip!ShopSubscribe The Future Is Here We may earn a commission from links on this page Search HomeLatestNewsGadgetsScienceEartherio9AISpaceEn EspanolVideo Spaceflight SpaceX's Next-Gen Starlink Satellites Have Started Falling From Space The first batch of Elon Musk's upgraded Starlink internet satellites experienced issues shortly after launching last month. By Passant Rabie PublishedYesterday Comments (19) Alerts We may earn a commission from links on this page. HEO Robotics captured this view of a Starlink V2 Mini satellite in orbit shortly after it launched. HEO Robotics captured this view of a Starlink V2 Mini satellite in orbit shortly after it launched. Image: HEO Robotics It's been a little over a month since SpaceX launched 21 mini versions of its next-generation Starlink satellites, but it appears that one of those little guys just couldn't cling to orbit any longer. Watch Astronomers Could Soon Get Warnings When SpaceX Satellites Threaten Their View CC Share Subtitles * Off * English Share this Video FacebookTwitterEmail RedditLink view video Astronomers Could Soon Get Warnings When SpaceX Satellites Threaten Their View Three Astronauts May Be Stranded on the ISS After Disturbing Soyuz Coolant Leak December 21, 2022 Taking out the Trash (in Space) July 12, 2022 The Starlink satellite designated as 30062 reentered Earth's atmosphere on Monday at 4:50 a.m. ET off the coast of California, according to a tweet from Jonathan McDowell, a Harvard-Smithsonian astrophysicist who keeps tabs on SpaceX's internet satellites. The satellite very likely burned up during its reentry. Advertisement McDowell noted on Twitter that three of the Starlink V2 Minis were raising their altitudes in the attempt to reach their designated operational orbits, while one underwent a controlled deorbit maneuver. Other observers have also been monitoring the V2 Minis since their launch, including the unofficial SpaceX guide Starlink Insider, which noted the satellite's deorbit trajectory before it reentered. G/O Media may get a commission Hoover PowerDash Pet Compact Carpet Cleaner 28% Off Hoover PowerDash Pet Compact Carpet Cleaner Spring cleaning for pet owners. This Hoover carpet cleaner has HeatForce technology that dries fast. Buy for $86 at Amazon Advertisement Advertisement Last month, Starlink Insider was among the first to notice that the recently launched batch of satellites were slowly falling instead of rising. In response to speculation regarding the condition of the V2 Minis, SpaceX CEO Elon Musk took to Twitter to clarify that the satellites were "experiencing some issues" and that some of them will be deorbited while others would still be tested. The recently deorbited V2 Mini could be the first of more to come, but we currently don't know for certain. Advertisement SpaceX launched 21 next generation Starlink satellites on board a Falcon 9 rocket on February 27. The company calls them V2 Minis, as the units are miniaturized versions of the company's full-sized, next generation Starlinks. The V2 Minis are meant to help SpaceX increase the capacity of its internet megaconstellation, filling the gap for the increasing demand of Starlink until the company is able to launch batches of its full-sized next-generation satellites. However, in order to do that, SpaceX needs to see its heavy-lift Starship rocket take to the skies. The company's currently operational Falcon 9 rocket is not designed to carry the next-generation satellites, prompting SpaceX to create the diminutive versions. SpaceX was reportedly planning on launching a second batch of V2 Minis last month, but it's unclear where the company now stands on its miniature satellites. Advertisement Want to know more about Elon Musk's space venture? Check out our full coverage of SpaceX's Starship megarocket and the SpaceX Starlink internet satellite megaconstellation. And for more spaceflight in your life, follow us on Twitter and bookmark Gizmodo's dedicated Spaceflight page.