SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket sends Starlink satellites to space from a California launch pad. (SpaceX via Twitter/X)

SpaceX 的獵鷹 9 號火箭從加州發射台將星鏈衛星送入太空。 （SpaceX 透過 Twitter/X）

The first satellites capable of providing direct-to-cellular service via SpaceX’s Starlink network and T-Mobile’s cellular network have been sent into orbit aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket.

第一批能夠透過 SpaceX 的 Starlink 網路和 T-Mobile 的蜂窩網路提供直接蜂窩服務的衛星已由 SpaceX Falcon 9 火箭送入軌道。

Six of the cell-capable satellites were among a batch of 21 Starlink satellites launched from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California at 7:44 p.m. PT Tuesday. The satellites were deployed successfully, and the rocket’s first-stage booster made a routine landing on a drone ship in the Pacific Ocean.

晚上 7 點 44 分，從加州范登堡太空部隊基地發射的一批 21 顆星鏈衛星中，有 6 顆具有蜂巢功能的衛星。太平洋時間週二。衛星部署成功，火箭一級助推器例行性降落在太平洋的一艘無人船上。

SpaceX plans to launch hundreds of the upgraded satellites in the months ahead, with the aim of beginning satellite-enabled texting later this year. 4G LTE satellite connectivity for voice and data via unmodified mobile devices would follow in 2025, pending regulatory approval.

SpaceX 計畫在未來幾個月發射數百顆升級版衛星，目標是在今年稍後開始支援衛星簡訊。隨後，2025 年將透過未經修改的行動裝置實現語音和數據的 4G LTE 衛星連接，目前正在等待監管部門的批准。

“Today’s launch is a pivotal moment for this groundbreaking alliance with SpaceX and our global partners around the world, as we work to make dead zones a thing of the past,” Mike Katz, president of marketing, strategy and products for Bellevue, Wash.-based T-Mobile, said today in a news release.

華盛頓州貝爾維尤市行銷、策略和產品總裁Mike Katz 表示：「今天的發射對於SpaceX 以及我們在世界各地的全球合作夥伴的這一突破性聯盟來說是一個關鍵時刻，我們致力於讓死區成為過去。」位於 T-Mobile 的 T-Mobile 今天在新聞稿中表示。

The partnership between SpaceX and T-Mobile is one of several efforts to merge the realms of satellite telecom service and cellular service. The most recent models of Apple’s iPhone already offer emergency texting service via satellite. Amazon’s Project Kuiper satellite effort is partnering with Verizon and other telecom companies for hybrid connectivity. AST SpaceMobile (which has AT&T as a partner) and Lynk Global are among other players in the market.

SpaceX 和 T-Mobile 之間的合作是整合衛星電信服務和蜂窩服務領域的多項努力之一。 Apple 最新型號的 iPhone 已提供透過衛星發送緊急簡訊服務。亞馬遜的 Project Kuiper 衛星計畫正在與 Verizon 和其他電信公司合作實現混合連接。 AST SpaceMobile（AT&T 作為合作夥伴）和 Lynk Global 是該市場的其他參與者。

In the 16 months since T-Mobile and SpaceX announced their partnership, other wireless providers have signed up for Starlink’s direct-to-cell service, including Rogers in Canada, Optus in Australia, One NZ in New Zealand, KDDI in Japan, Salt in Switzerland, and Entel in Chile and Peru. “And the invitation still stands for any carrier with the shared goal of global connectivity to join,” T-Mobile said.

自T-Mobile 和SpaceX 宣布合作夥伴關係以來的16 個月內，其他無線供應商已簽約使用Starlink 的直接到手機服務，包括加拿大的Rogers、澳洲的Optus、紐西蘭的One NZ、日本的KDDI、美國的Salt瑞士、智利和秘魯的 Entel。 T-Mobile 表示：“邀請仍然適用於任何具有全球連接共同目標的運營商加入。”

Over the next few months, SpaceX and T-Mobile will be testing direct-to-cell service on a limited basis in sites across the U.S. — including Redmond, Wash., where Starlink satellites are manufactured — to ensure that the system won’t interfere with other telecom services.

在接下來的幾個月中，SpaceX 和T-Mobile 將在美國各地的站點（包括生產Starlink 衛星的華盛頓州雷德蒙德）有限地測試直接到手機服務，以確保系統不會故障.幹擾其他電信服務。

The development of SpaceX’s Starship / Super Heavy launch system is another variable in the timeline: Once Starship enters service, that would accelerate the deployment of SpaceX’s next-generation Starlink satellites.

SpaceX 的 Starship / Super Heavy 發射系統的開發是時間表中的另一個變數：一旦 Starship 投入使用，這將加速 SpaceX 下一代 Starlink 衛星的部署。