Space Exploration Technologies Corporation, better known as SpaceX, wants to provide an internet service for the US and eventually the world throughout earth orbiting satellites in space. This news comes right after the launch of SpaceX’s rocket, Falcon Heavy. We’ve talked about the impact of Elon Musk and SpaceX in class so this topic caught my eye.
Ajit Pai, the Chairman of the Federal Communications Center, is a strong proponent for SpaceX’s mission to try and connect the world. By having satellite internet technology, all types of places can be connected such as rural areas and poverty stricken areas. This will be a huge step in helping bring the world together.
This project seems to be far away from happening because they still have to get official government approval and then start testing the machines. In Elon Musk’s original proposal in 2015, he said 800 of the first satelites would be launched by 2019. We are nearing that date and it seems to be too far behind. Most likely the 4,800 low orbit satellites launching goal will not be complete by 2025. In the financial plan that Elon Musk submitted, each satellite would cost less than $1 million each. If there is one company to do this successfully, it is SpaceX so hopefully this project will be seen through.
Sources:
https://www.wsj.com/articles/fcc-chairman-recommends-approval-of-spacexs-internetsatelliteplan-1518647894
https://www.nextbigfuture.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/1953a67d1e196cbe21a154c8d06295e8-730×430.jpg?x71037
This is a very interesting concept to me. In Grush’s article, she explains that Space X is scheduled to have another Falcon 9 this weekend. This Falcon 9 will have more prototypes to help test even more projections of the internet down from space. Space X seems to have a lot of ideas on what they ideally want to do, but the question is more how do they implement it? It’s a difficult task to do, will they be able to accomplish it?
It sounds as though Space X still needs to figure out the movement of the satellites once they’re up in space, connecting to certain radios, and more. They hope to launch they’re first satellites that are actually operational in 2019, but at the rate they’re going, I agree, I am unsure if that is a possible goal. It sounds as though a lot more thought has to be put into their ideas before they implement it. This is an interesting concept and I’m curious to see what happens in the future.
Source: https://www.theverge.com/2018/2/15/17016208/spacex-falcon-9-launch-starlink-microsat-2a-2b-paz-watch-live