SpaceX to launch a satellite for Low-Cost Internet Global Internet this week

[saravanak85]

Three years after SpaceX CEO Elon Musk unveiled the project in Seattle, 1st test satellites for SpaceX’s global internet constellation is ready for a launch.

 

The prototype spacecraft, known as Microsat 2a and 2b, is reported to be included as secondary payloads on a Falcon 9 rocket from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California.

 

SpaceX is targeting February 17 for the test launch of its first satellite for global internet constellation.

 

Source: http://angdnews.com/spacex-set-to-launch-first-prototype-starlink-satellites-for-low-cost-internet/

[deXxterlab97]

• Why did SpaceX land on mars?
• Because SpaceY would land on 14 years old boys

[Nicnac]

This will especially be interesting for you net-neutrality affected US citizens ^^

 

Musky at it again, improving the world

 

glad to see this one is still going. thought they had dropped the project.

[ItsMitch]

Impressive, I'd like to see it in action although

[ExplosiveSloths]

DAMN MIND CONTROL SATELLITES

 

 

 

 

 

[Lurick]

1 minute ago, ExplosiveSloths said:

DAMN MIND CONTROL SATELLITES

Do not worry citizen, soon you shall become part of the collective.

Resistance is futile.

[captain_to_fire]

Satellite internet = high latency 

 

But if it means better internet access for low income people in rural areas and third world countries without fiber optic coverage then why not?

Edited February 12, 2018 by hey_yo_

[Dissitesuxba11s]

Hopefully at some point this will give internet access to developing countries with limited infrastructure. Let's also hope that it will do better than the Facebook satellite mishap.

[Hip]

Is this a SpaceX Satelite?

[lewdicrous]

7 minutes ago, ExplosiveSloths said:

DAMN MIND CONTROL SATELLITES

Tin foil hats are at arms reach

 

[ItsMitch]

30 minutes ago, Hip said:

Is this a SpaceX Satellite?

No, SpaceX just launch it for the companies iirc

E: This is a SpaceX Satellite

[sazrocks]

4 minutes ago, hey_yo_ said:

Satellite internet = high latency 

 

But if it means better internet access for low income people in rural areas without fiber optic coverage then why not?

Actually since these are at a lower altitude I wonder if we will see more reasonable ping times. If they can limit the number of hops then I would guess 100-200ms ping times are possible.

[sazrocks]

1 minute ago, SC2Mitch said:

No, spacex just launch it for the companies iirc

No, this is a system that SpaceX is developing itself.

[captain_to_fire]

6 minutes ago, sazrocks said:

Actually since these are at a lower altitude I wonder if we will see more reasonable ping times. If they can limit the number of hops then I would guess 100-200ms ping times are possible.

I wonder if they're going to use the Ka band frequency? I'm not expecting satellite internet to have a latency as low as what DSL or fiber can achieve but if it's around 100-200 ms then it might be enough for some decent Skype chats or FaceTime chats despite the dropped frames due to that latency so if someone waves their hand in a video chat, they'll see the hand is already down. 

[Hogger]

US internet it fucked... how do we fix it?!?

 

Put it in space.

[BuckGup]

18 minutes ago, hey_yo_ said:

Satellite internet = high latency 

 

But if it means better internet access for low income people in rural areas and third world countries without fiber optic coverage then why not?

Actually the ping with these are super low. He quoted 60-100ms added latency.

[BuckGup]

Just now, Hogger said:

US internet it fucked... how do we fix it?!?

 

Put it in space.

There aren't any local monopolies there

[ItsMitch]

24 minutes ago, sazrocks said:

No, this is a system that SpaceX is developing itself.

oh shit, sign me up. 

[Jito463]

There's a goof in the title

Quote

Low-Cost Internet Global Internet

Double the internet, double the fun!

[suicidalfranco]

13 minutes ago, BuckGup said:

There aren't any local monopolies there

yet.

[BuckGup]

34 minutes ago, suicidalfranco said:

yet.

True but I think getting coverage everywhere might be easier 

[onlybuilt4cubanxlinx]

More scams coming your way from newly connected internet peops!

[Blasteque]

3 hours ago, sazrocks said:

Actually since these are at a lower altitude I wonder if we will see more reasonable ping times. If they can limit the number of hops then I would guess 100-200ms ping times are possible.

The altitude will help indirectly because it will require more satellites to achieve coverage.  More antennas available for more simultaneous connections will help lots over existing systems (it's the packet sizes that are the real pain). 

 

Although, low orbit also means no high-gain directional antennas -- which means (relatively) low frequency and, therefor, low bandwidth.  This isn't going to replace terrestrial wifi, but it should provide cheap internet to places that don't have it.

[Murasaki]

Nah they're just upgrading ISS' internet speeds

[sazrocks]

2 hours ago, Blasteque said:

The altitude will help indirectly because it will require more satellites to achieve coverage.  More antennas available for more simultaneous connections will help lots over existing systems (it's the packet sizes that are the real pain). 

 

Although, low orbit also means no high-gain directional antennas -- which means (relatively) low frequency and, therefor, low bandwidth.  This isn't going to replace terrestrial wifi, but it should provide cheap internet to places that don't have it.

I mean, 75 GHz should be enough.