RELEASED on October 02, 2022
ISLAMA BAD:
It was a scene that stunned many nations, including Pakistan. A constellation of satellites swept across the sky – with many in Punjab, Balochistan and Sindh even capturing the event on camera. The satellites in question were part of Elon Musk’s much-vaunted Starlink network, which can provide reliable Internet connectivity to 40 different countries wirelessly.
In recent weeks and months, the Starlink broadband service has often been in the news for being available during times of extreme emergencies. It was used in Tonga when the island nation faced a volcanic eruption and subsequent tsunami. In particular, it was used in Ukraine during the Russian invasion when traditional internet services went offline. According to what Musk has said in the past about SpaceX and Apple Inc., using Starlink’s satellite services for the iPhone 14’s emergency call feature has also been the subject of good discussions.
The largest satellite network
Starlink is the world’s first and largest satellite network. It uses low-Earth orbit to provide broadband internet that can enable streaming, online gaming, video calls, and other activities. Starlink provides high-speed, low-latency internet to customers around the world by leveraging state-of-the-art satellites and SpaceX’s extensive experience in both spacecraft and in-orbit operations. Individual geostationary satellites orbiting the planet at a distance of 35,786 km provide the bulk of satellite Internet services. Due to the significant round-trip data time (also known as latency) between the user and the satellite, it is extremely difficult to carry out high data rate activities such as streaming, online gaming, video calls, etc.
Starlink is a constellation of hundreds of satellites that spans the entire planet and orbits the planet much closer to Earth at about 550 km. Starlink Business helps ensure bandwidth for critical 24/7 operations by increasing throughput allocation, improving poor weather performance and providing a higher gain antenna.
Starlink Business workers can expect download speeds of up to 350Mbps and latency of 20-40ms, providing a high-throughput connection for offices with up to 20 users, retail locations and demanding workloads around the world.
Even the most jaded satellite observers were in the skies with excitement at SpaceX’s demonstration of a new line of Starlink communications satellites. SpaceX launched 60 Starlink satellites into orbit on May 23 from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida on a Falcon 9 rocket. The satellites are the first of a planned 12,000-satellite mega-constellation designed to provide internet access to everyone on Earth and are in good condition. The satellites are currently orbiting the Earth at an altitude of about 273 miles (440 km) and as they move through the night sky they put on an amazing show for observers on the ground. It was initially observed that the satellites were stretched out in a straight line with an apparent longitude between 5 and 8 degrees. The satellite train is now moving across the sky at about the length of your clenched fist held at arm’s length, which is approximately 10 degrees.
The satellites are slowly being lifted to their 342-mile operational orbit, but it will take time for them to appear less “focused” as they rotate around the Earth at 90-minute (550 km) intervals. Forty countries can access the Internet via satellite thanks to SpaceX’s Starlink satellite fleet. After 2023, it also wants to offer satellite-based personal communication services with global coverage. SpaceX launches of Starlink satellites began in 2019. The rising numbers are disputed. As of July 2022, Starlink includes more than 3,000 small, mass-produced satellites in low-Earth orbit, linked to specific ground transceivers for communication. As of June 2022, Starlink also provides internet access to more than 500,000 users.
Worldwide internet access
The Starlink satellite constellation system intends to provide worldwide Internet access. This technique is best suited for remote, rural locations with poor or no internet connection. People usually watch Starlink satellites. They are often visible for up to a day or two after starting. While some people can only see the individual dots that make up each satellite, others may perceive them as a continuous, long line of light traveling across the sky. Starlink beta testers have reported speeds in excess of 150 megabits per second, exceeding the range specified for open beta testing. Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada announced on November 6, 2020 that the Starlink constellation of satellites in low Earth orbit has received regulatory certification. Starlink’s satellite signal can be disrupted by rain. Generally, light rain does not cause problems, but sustained downpours can disrupt your signal until the rain stops. Depending on the level of humidity, rain may or may not affect the connection.
Trees, buildings, and other objects can obstruct Starlink satellite Internet transmission. However, potential buyers can use the Starlink app to assess their area prior to purchase to see if their particular environment would support the Starlink required field of view. It was the 39th launch for SpaceX in 2022. On Wednesday, August 31, at 1:40 a.m. EDT (0540 GMT; 10:40 p.m. California time), a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launched 46 of the Company into orbit from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California.
The first stage of the two-stage Falcon 9 descended about 8.5 minutes after liftoff for a precise landing on the SpaceX robotic drones. SpaceX has already launched more than 3,000 satellites for Starlink, a massive internet constellation that offers broadband connections to users around the world. Many of these spacecraft were launched earlier this year; SpaceX has flown 25 specific Starlink missions so far in 2022. Starlink currently accounts for the bulk of SpaceX’s launch activity; The company has completed 39 orbital missions so far this year. The gigantic constellation will continue to grow in size and scope. SpaceX has received permission to launch 12,000 Starlink satellites and has asked a global regulator for approval to launch an additional 30,000 satellites. Elon Musk, the CEO and founder of SpaceX, has made plans to use Starlink to bring connectivity directly to cell phones. Coverage Above and Beyond, a joint venture between SpaceX and T-Mobile, will use Starlink Version 2 satellites, a larger and more powerful spacecraft expected to launch next year. The large-scale satellite network Starlink aims to bring high-speed Internet services to even the most remote regions of the world. SpaceX, a company owned by Elon Musk, has been developing it since 2015.
The satellites are launched into orbit in groups. There are currently 775 solar-powered satellites orbiting the earth, having launched 13 batches of spacecraft to date. With a potential increase to 42,000 satellites in the future, SpaceX plans to build a significant constellation of 12,000 spacecraft. There have been discussions about the possible problems that Starlink satellites could bring. Around 5,000 satellites are already in orbit around the earth. Our skies will be covered with artificial objects that reflect light if SpaceX’s plan is successful. Professional astronomers can have trouble as satellites pollute their view of the sky. The possibility of so many objects colliding and creating space debris is another problem. In response to the first concern, SpaceX has already tested DarkSat and VisorSat, two model satellites with shaded surfaces. Since the Starlink 8 mission, all satellites have had anti-reflective surfaces. On the second point, Elon Musk explained that in the event of a failure, the satellites should return from orbit within five years. A train of bright lights in the night sky and Starlink satellites make for an amazing sight. If you know where and when to look, you can easily see them with the naked eye.
internet and war
Elon Musk made good on his promise by deploying SpaceX Starlink terminals in Ukraine in March 2022.
Ukraine’s internet connection had experienced “serious delays” as conflict raged there in the wake of a Russian invasion that had begun a few months earlier. Then, SpaceX CEO Elon Musk provided internet services to Ukraine via the company’s Starlink satellites after making the same promise on Twitter.
Mykhailo Fedorov, Ukraine’s Deputy Prime Minister and its Minister for Digital Development, tweeted on Monday (February 28, 2022) an image of a cluster of additional terminals used to access SpaceX’s Starlink satellite internet service. Due to the severe lack of connectivity in Ukraine, Fedorov reached out to SpaceX CEO Elon Musk on Twitter on February 26 for real help.
Off to an interstellar future
Starship and Super Heavy are the two biggest and most important parts of Elon Musk’s (opens in new tab) grand plan for SpaceX, his private space company. Musk has consistently emphasized that the main reason SpaceX was founded in 2002 was to help humanity colonize Mars (opens in new tab). A wealthy businessman has stated that it is imperative that humans evolve into a multiplanetary species, noting both a greatly reduced risk of extinction and the joy that real space travel will bring to billions of people worldwide.
Now SpaceX is actively working to make this sci-fi fantasy a reality. The company is designing the 100-passenger Starship spacecraft and massive Super Heavy rocket that Musk believes will finally make it possible to colonize Mars.
