What do you think about StarLink ? Your possibly future ISP

[Space Pirate]

So if you haven't heard SpaceX have launcher around 360 satellites as of now 60 of those which are test satellites.

In lay man's terms: Satellite internet should be faster than fiber optics a great deal more faster in some cases. The way it works is that there is ground-based satellite dishes on the ground to connect a community with 1-3 satellites. It will take a few years before it goes global but I'm hoping for the next 2-3 years for Europe. For the US probably a year or two before it goes mainstream.

What are you thought about it ?

 

[Shenandoah]

I've actually read quite a bit about this. I think it'll provide more people with internet access than ever before, and I really like the idea of that. More people can join our forum in that case, hehe...

One thing that's a little worrying is that I've read accounts of Astronomers being pissed because the satellites are blocking the night sky, so it becomes much harder for them to do their work. I believe SpaceX/StarLink's solution was to use material on the satellites that are much less reflective, but I could be wrong here. It'll be interesting to see how this issue develops though.

 

[Space Pirate]

I've actually read quite a bit about this. I think it'll provide more people with internet access than ever before, and I really like the idea of that. More people can join our forum in that case, hehe...

One thing that's a little worrying is that I've read accounts of Astronomers being pissed because the satellites are blocking the night sky, so it becomes much harder for them to do their work. I believe SpaceX/StarLink's solution was to use material on the satellites that are much less reflective, but I could be wrong here. It'll be interesting to see how this issue develops though.

You are correct in both regards. From what I have understood there will always be some reflections of the satellites and either land-based astronomers have to figure out a way to fix it using post-processing or just deal with it.

But we as humanity have to decide what is more important, space research or better a better internet. I split with this because i love both .

 

[Shenandoah]

But we as humanity have to decide what is more important, space research or better a better internet. I split with this because i love both .

That definitely doesn't like an easy decision to make. I don't really think we need to make that decision though. I don't think humanity is ever going to accept a compromise where we have to do just one of those two options. We will find a way, I'm sure of it!

 

[Space Pirate]

That definitely doesn't like an easy decision to make. I don't really think we need to make that decision though. I don't think humanity is ever going to accept a compromise where we have to do just one of those two options. We will find a way, I'm sure of it!

Hmm I wouldn't be so sure. With better access to space, more imaging satellites will be launched into space instead of ground based telescopes.

It's still gonna be a few rocky years to come though.

 

[Shenandoah]

Hmm I wouldn't be so sure. With better access to space, more imaging satellites will be launched into space instead of ground based telescopes.

It's still gonna be a few rocky years to come though.

I'm definitely not so sure, hehe. It would be a shame though if it won't be possible to use ground-based telescopes in a practical manner, at least for the astronomer hobbyist.

 

[Space Pirate]

I'm definitely not so sure, hehe. It would be a shame though if it won't be possible to use ground-based telescopes in a practical manner, at least for the astronomer hobbyist.

Ayy, but I don't think that would be a though trade for fast Internet across the entire globe.

 

[CoRe]

Very interesting stuff, I'm wondering how long the latency will be when using a service like this.

 

[Space Pirate]

Very interesting stuff, I'm wondering how long the latency will be when using a service like this.

It should be vastly lower than using cable if the processing of the data is done in a timely manner.
You can check out Real Engineering, he explains it pretty well and it's a very interesting video by itself.