Linking the world with Starlink!
Ever got stuck in such a place where there was no internet available. If yes, then you may be aware of the irritation and problems caused by low internet connectivity.
Although many may find a way to get out of such a situation everyone cannot be that lucky always.
But even after decades of the launch of the internet, it's still not reachable to a large mass. Especially in backward countries of Asia and Africa, getting good internet connectivity is still a dream.
After reading to all these problems, you may be thinking that why can't anything be done to get good internet connectivity all around the world.
But, cheers!!! Mr. Elon Musk has a good solution for it and it will surely work.
It's called Starlink!
Although many may find a way to get out of such a situation everyone cannot be that lucky always.
But even after decades of the launch of the internet, it's still not reachable to a large mass. Especially in backward countries of Asia and Africa, getting good internet connectivity is still a dream.
After reading to all these problems, you may be thinking that why can't anything be done to get good internet connectivity all around the world.
But, cheers!!! Mr. Elon Musk has a good solution for it and it will surely work.
It's called Starlink!
What is Starlink?
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| SpaceX's Starlink |
Starlink is a satellite constellation project being developed under the American company SpaceX. It aims to develop a low cost and high-performance space-based Internet Communication System.
Other than Internet Connectivity, SpaceX also promises that its satellites can also be used for military, scientific and exploratory purposes.
The idea of launching satellite broadband was announced publicly in the year 2015 by SpaceX.
Another aim for SpaceX to provide this service is to fund its Mars plans. Musk knows that the internet has now become a big industry and that it could generate enormous funds!!!
By now, you must have understood what Starlink is all about. So, let's go deep into the mission!!!
Check it out here: SpaceX gets approved by FCC.
After getting permission, SpaceX started to prepare itself for making the satellites. This doesn't seem that difficult, but actually, it is. Making such cost-friendly communication satellites is a really difficult task. But after all, SpaceX did it!
The next task, the big task, was to send those 12,000 satellites into space. SpaceX knew that it's impossible to send these many satellites into space, so it thought of a better way to do this. They thought of sending 60 satellites into space at a time, do this more than 6 times in a year and continue to do it for the next 5- 6 years.
The first 60 satellites have already been launched on Thursday, 23 May and the deployment was successful.
Other than Internet Connectivity, SpaceX also promises that its satellites can also be used for military, scientific and exploratory purposes.
The idea of launching satellite broadband was announced publicly in the year 2015 by SpaceX.
Another aim for SpaceX to provide this service is to fund its Mars plans. Musk knows that the internet has now become a big industry and that it could generate enormous funds!!!
By now, you must have understood what Starlink is all about. So, let's go deep into the mission!!!
How the mission is going to be executed?
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| Elon Musk (Source: Express) |
SpaceX plans to deploy a massive 12000 satellites into the Low Earth Orbit (LEO).
This is a massive task, even for a company like SpaceX. So to the execution of the mission should be precise.
Well, the major part of the mission, that is getting permission has been already done. Although there are many permissions required, the most important of them is approved by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). This is a massive task, even for a company like SpaceX. So to the execution of the mission should be precise.
Check it out here: SpaceX gets approved by FCC.
After getting permission, SpaceX started to prepare itself for making the satellites. This doesn't seem that difficult, but actually, it is. Making such cost-friendly communication satellites is a really difficult task. But after all, SpaceX did it!
The next task, the big task, was to send those 12,000 satellites into space. SpaceX knew that it's impossible to send these many satellites into space, so it thought of a better way to do this. They thought of sending 60 satellites into space at a time, do this more than 6 times in a year and continue to do it for the next 5- 6 years.
The first 60 satellites have already been launched on Thursday, 23 May and the deployment was successful.
And these types of launches will continue for the next few years until all the 12000 satellites will be launched. And we wish that all the satellites launch properly!
Now that we have talked about the mission execution, let's take a look at its criticism.
Why is this mission criticized by some?
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| The reflection of sunlight by Starlink satellites which could potentially ruin the night sky. |
Starlink, the revolutionary satellite constellation, doesn't only have advantages but also has disadvantages of its own.
Some experienced astronomers say that these many in space could outnumber visible stars and hence ruin the beauty of the night sky.
Some also stated that these satellites will impact astronomical observations because of their brightness in both optical and radio wavelengths.
A thread broke out on the micro-blogging site, Twitter, where this issue was raised. To this, Elon Musk responded that SpaceX will work on reducing the albedo of its satellites. He also said that SpaceX would provide on-demand orientation adjustments for astronomical experiments, if necessary. Here's what else he said:
These arguments made by Mr. Elon Musk don't seem too reliable but we can hope for the best.
By now, you must have learned a lot about Starlink but don't leave, we have got more for you!!!
Some experienced astronomers say that these many in space could outnumber visible stars and hence ruin the beauty of the night sky.
Some also stated that these satellites will impact astronomical observations because of their brightness in both optical and radio wavelengths.
A thread broke out on the micro-blogging site, Twitter, where this issue was raised. To this, Elon Musk responded that SpaceX will work on reducing the albedo of its satellites. He also said that SpaceX would provide on-demand orientation adjustments for astronomical experiments, if necessary. Here's what else he said:
Exactly, potentially helping billions of economically disadvantaged people is the greater good. That said, we’ll make sure Starlink has no material effect on discoveries in astronomy. We care a great deal about science.
These arguments made by Mr. Elon Musk don't seem too reliable but we can hope for the best.
By now, you must have learned a lot about Starlink but don't leave, we have got more for you!!!
Are there any competitors to SpaceX's Starlink?
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| Jeff Bezos' Blue Origin |
Although SpaceX's Starlink has become quite popular in the recent 5 years it has to be said that the idea of a global, satellite-enabled broadband system, is not new, rather it has been done by many companies previously.
Some of the notable previous satellite broadband missions were:
So, these were some of the existing competitors of SpaceX's Starlink. But that's not it, there's one last competitor we have left for you. Here's your surprise:
Some of the notable previous satellite broadband missions were:
1. Globalstar:
It is an operational low earth orbit (LEO) satellite that is aimed to deliver low-speed data and also help in satellite phone communication.
2. Iridium Space Constellation:
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| The iridium satellite- © Cliff |
This constellation of 66 satellites, set up in the LEO, provides global satellite phone service.
3. OneWeb Satellite Constellation:
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| OneWeb logo |
It is an underdevelopment satellite constellation that aims to provide global internet service. It will be operation from 2021.
So, these were some of the existing competitors of SpaceX's Starlink. But that's not it, there's one last competitor we have left for you. Here's your surprise:
Project Kuiper:
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| Project Kuiper |
The SpaceX's prime competitor, Blue Origin, headed by Mr. Jeff Bezos (CEO of Amazon), has also initiated to launch a satellite broadband connection comprising of 3,236 satellites.
It has been named Project Kuiper. It's not yet been approved by FCC as of July 2019, but will, most probably, get an approval.
Read more about it here:
Amazon to offer broadband access from orbit with 3236 satellites ' Project Kuiper' mission.
Now, its the time for the author's keynote!!!
It has been named Project Kuiper. It's not yet been approved by FCC as of July 2019, but will, most probably, get an approval.
Read more about it here:
Amazon to offer broadband access from orbit with 3236 satellites ' Project Kuiper' mission.
Now, its the time for the author's keynote!!!
Author's Keynote:
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| DhruvDazer (Dhruv Kandpal) |
By now you must have learned that Starlink is not unique. The fact that it's much popular than others is just because of its huge number of satellites and a famous CEO who is trying to transform this world into a technologically advanced place.
Although these types of missions would lead to the advancement of the human race, it has to note that such a huge number of satellites in the LEO can lead to some dangerous scenarios.
Now, we must understand the threats and be ready for them. We hope that the visionaries like Elon Musk, take Earth to the path of technological advancements and make this technology accessible to all.
Although these types of missions would lead to the advancement of the human race, it has to note that such a huge number of satellites in the LEO can lead to some dangerous scenarios.
Now, we must understand the threats and be ready for them. We hope that the visionaries like Elon Musk, take Earth to the path of technological advancements and make this technology accessible to all.
So, this was the wrap-up or summary of the whole article. We hope this article was informative.
If you have any queries or problems related to any word or sentence in this article, plz write it in the comment section below, we will surely acknowledge it.
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Thanks for reading!!!
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