We live in a world where we can communicate with people on the other side of the planet in real time. We have built stretches of fibre cables running through oceans between continents to provide us with a stable connection to the internet that we make use of every day of our lives. But what if we could do better? Imagine a world where we thrived in fully autonomous vehicles and other AI controlled technologies, or where our communication boundaries weren’t inhibited by political borders. Our internet speeds would be exceptional regardless of our location, from mountain peaks to the middle of the ocean, and we could put an end to the anguish of refreshing web pages uncountable number of times. These futuristic applications we have been dreaming of are now becoming a reality with the installation of Elon Musk’s “Starlink”.
Starlink is a program that aims to place over 6,000 small satellites into different planes of orbit encompassing the globe. The constellation of satellites will mean that, wherever you are, you will be able to receive the same internet connection as anywhere else in the world (excluding polar arctic regions).
Improved connection
The internet cables we have in place today transmit extraordinary amounts of data every second to provide us with global communication. The cables themselves are made of thousands of thin glass fibres that reflect the data through the cable. Although the data is in theory travelling at light speed, there is one key factor that limits this. The constant reflection of light causes the transmission time to increase slightly since the light is not actually heading in the same direction as the cable and this results in the data travelling 60-70% as fast as it would be if it was in a vacuum. This is the fundamental reason that makes Starlink superior to any other connection. Because there are literally only a few thousand atoms between the satellites, the full potential of light speed can be used and, even if they are orbiting at an altitude of 550km, the connection is still much faster.
Globalization
The potential for increased internet speeds, although exciting as it is, is not the primary purpose of Starlink however. The reason why so many satellites will be used is to maximize how much of the Earth can be encompassed. With over 6,000 satellites, the whole world will be able to make full use of this program. This allows for areas in less developed countries, where internet had never existed, to finally connect with the world and benefit from globalization. With enhanced communication, these areas could develop properly, adopting more modernized life styles and gaining access to information they would never have had.
Environmental Impact
If you’re thinking about the danger to the environment that this program poses, rest assured, for every single satellite is launched with up to 59 others aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket to allow for maximum efficiency. It can be argued that the Falcon 9 rocket is just as important as the satellite themselves and while it is true that the immense amount of fuel used to get these satellites into orbit produces greenhouse gases, the exceptional reusability of the Falcon 9 rocket means that economic and environmental costs are massively reduced. Unlike conventional rockets, where each stage is discarded, the Falcon 9 booster lands itself in such stable condition that it can be reused in up to 27 days. This is a feat never before considered possible in the previous generation of rockets but because of it, the cost of developing better technologies is significantly reduced and we no longer have to consider money as a factor limiting our innovation potential.