Introduction
Elon Musk’s Starlink, formerly known as the Space Exploration Technologies Corp. and now renamed to something of a buzzword, is a relatively new technology. With it, Musk has sought to create a system of nearly 12,000 small satellites that could help provide the world with internet access, especially in rural or difficult to reach areas. The company’s goal is to eventually have more than 42,000 in space. That being said, it has been rather difficult to ascertain where exactly are the satellites of Musk’s Starlink scattered right now. With assistance from aerospace industry sources and experts, we take a look at the current state of the satellites.
Where Are The Elon Musk Satellites?
The Starlink constellation, which is the primary focus of Musk’s project, is traditionally divided into two main parts – one above and one below an altitude of 400 kilometres. As of May 2020, at the higher altitude, more than 580 satellites were reportedly overhead. These satellites are located anywhere between 540 kilometres to 570 kilometres and pass over the entirety of the Earth’s surface with certain exceptions.
The satellites that make up the system can also be identified beneath the 400 kilometre mark. There, a total of 298 spacecrafts have already been launched, spread across 52 orbital planes which are about 156 miles in height. The exact locations of the satellites can change, as adjustments are made due to technical or other considerations. But in the end, their end goal always remains the same – to provide internet access to underdeveloped areas of the world.
Possible Challenges Ahead
As promising as this technology may be, there are certain issues that need to be taken into account before using Starlink’s satellites as a mainstream internet delivery system. The most major problem is likely to be interference. As the satellites are placed in low Earth orbit, they are more likely to be in an area which is densely populated by Earth’s atmosphere particles and this could interfere with the connection.
Additionally, the satellites are also said to be a potential distraction for astronomers. This is because of the reflective surface of the satellites could end up interfering with optical observations and possibly distort the picture of the night sky. While the company has revealed that the surface of the satellites is being coated with a special material in order to reduce the reflection, some experts are still wary about the end impact.
Current Progress on the Project
Current progress on the SpaceX project has been considerable and there is no doubt that it is one of the most ambitious projects of this era. As of now, the project has gained the permission to place over 12,000 satellites in the space and is rapidly growing.
The company has announced the commercial service to begin by the end of 2020. Ready for flight satellites are already being sent up into the atmosphere via reusable rockets. This gives Starlink a distinct advantage regarding cost effectiveness. Additionally, the company is also planning on a potential expansion of the system to more than 42,000 satellites. This would give the people in underdeveloped areas more access and faster internet speeds as well as better quality of connection.
Conclusion
Elon Musk’s Starlink is a project that has generated a lot of buzz and with it, loads of speculation as well. The technology could help revolutionize the way internet access is provided, especially for people in remote or difficult to reach areas. But as with any emerging technology, it has its own array of potential problems. However, the company has set ambitious goals and is seeking to deploy more than 12,000 of its satellites and is expecting to launch them in late 2020. Thus, we might soon see a new era of the internet!
What Impact Would It Have On The World?
The successful launch and implementation of Elon Musk’s Starlink system could potentially offer a major shift in globalization as well as communication advances as a whole. It offers a potential solution to internet access issues in remote locations and rural areas by providing wide coverage through its thousands of satellites. Additionally, the technology could have a major impact on the lives of those who have difficulty accessing the internet or have no access at all.
The vision of Musk’s Starlink is to offer high speed, low latency internet to people all around the world, not just in urban areas. According to Musk, the company’s mission is to do this as quickly and economically as possible. In addition, the technology also offers a wider range of applications, not just for internet access. It could be used in connection with surveillance and emergency response systems, as well as in aviation and maritime services. It could also be used for emergency communications and broadcasting.
What Does The Future Hold?
The success of Elon Musk’s SpaceX will depend on its ability to provide reliable, high quality internet to those in need. From its current development pace and the ambitions of the company, it seems likely that the project will be around for the foreseeable future. However, as with any emerging technology, there is still doubt and speculation as to how the next few years of the project will turn out in the long term.
And while there are concerns being raised by experts and industry insiders, the bottom line is that the project will take some time before it can be fully established. This is mainly because of the complexity of the process involved. In addition to the challenges posed by space debris and other associated problems, technicalities such as the placement of hundreds of satellites in space and their actual functioning will have to be worked out as well.
Will It Be Successful?
The key to success for Starlink or any other satellite-based initiatives lies in getting all the details right. For example, each satellite must be placed at the perfect altitude and place, so that there is no interference from other satellites in the vicinity. Additionally, they must be constructed with the right material and designed with a low impact on the environment.
The success of Starlink also involves a great bit of financial success as well. This is because the project has the potential to generate billions of dollars in revenue, through subscriptions, royalties etc. However, the success of the Starlink project is not only determined by the money involved. It also depends on the technicalities, as mentioned before, and how well the company is able to distribute internet connection and services worldwide.
Competition and Other Factors
The Starlink network is not the only one of its kind. For instance, the on-going Amazon Project Kuiper has similar goals and is well on its way to completion with the registration of its first three satellites earlier this year. Additionally, OneWeb, a company owned by the Government of India and Bharti Group, is well on its way towards completing its own satellite network.
The sudden emergence and success of these projects has led to a short-term boom in the space industry, but this could also mean tough competition in the coming years. The fact that all these projects rely heavily on public or private funds could mean a lot of money is at stake and only one project may end up staying in the lead.
However, the risks posed by space debris and associated costs could be the deciding factor in a competition such as this. As more and more operators enter the field, the competition takes on an even more interesting dynamic. Only time will tell which project comes out on top and whether it can provide the same level of high quality internet access as promised.
