Starlink: Total Connectivity
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When we travel between different cities or we are on a trip to a remote place like mountains or an area which is not quite developed, we tend to lose mobile or internet connectivity. It is mostly due to underdeveloped infrastructure or maybe because of difficulty in raising infrastructure, resulting in network inconsistency or lack connectivity [1]. Covid-19 pandemic highlighted already well-known importance of the internet as everyone is working from home- students are taking classes online, researchers are performing experiments, some industries are working online, also online medical consultation saving many lives etc. As there is a growing need of the internet in every field- from education to medical fields, from agriculture to entertainment, constant and complete connectivity need to be assured. Saying this, a question arises, is there a solution to this problem? How can we enhance the network connection?
Elon Musk might have an answer to this. His company named SpaceX has launched a project named Starlink. What is Starlink? Starlink will be a constellation of thousands of communication satellites. The current plan is to launch 12,000 satellites in space. These satellites will be stationed in low earth orbits at around 340 km, 550 km and 1100 km creating three-layered satellite webs. Till now SpaceX has launched 538 satellites into orbit.
Why is Starlink using satellites instead of other methods?
The first answer is to connect everyone and it is easy to cover a large area using satellites. Second, data transfer rate using satellites in low earth orbit is larger than optical fibre. As we all know light travels slower in glass than air, it affects data transfer rate using fibre. Also, fibre does not always connect two points with the shortest path. Whereas, satellites can connect two places by the shortest route. These factors make satellites in low earth orbit superior to fibre.
Why is Starlink launching a huge number of satellites?
Currently, geostationary satellites are used for communication purposes. Geostationary satellites cover a huge area and give steady connection being stationary with respect to earth. However, being in high earth orbit (36,000 km) data transfer rate is low. To increase data transfer rate Starlink has plans to put satellites in low earth orbits. Low earth orbit satellites cover less area on the surface, hence need a large number of satellites. Also, in low earth orbit satellites cannot remain stationary and move at very high speed to maintain their orbit by overcoming earth’s gravitational force. Now as satellites move very fast it will be difficult to maintain a steady connection with few satellites, which further increases the required number.
Is there any problem arising due to Starlink?
As aforementioned, Starlink will be launching a huge number of satellites which will overcrowd the space around the earth. It might pose a threat to future space programs. Another danger which may arise is due to large numbers, it is expected to create a large amount of space debris which further endanger the space programs and existing satellites. But SpaceX says they have a solution to this problem. An onboard thruster will de-orbit the satellite near its end and the satellite will burn in the atmosphere resulting in very small space junk. Astronomers yet rose another issue related to numbers. Every satellite reflects a larger amount of Sunlight. A very large number of satellites reflecting Sunlight could hinder the space observations. It could reduce already low space signals. SpaceX is working to tackle this problem by painting anti-reflective coatings, reorienting the satellites to change the reflectance.
SpaceX plans to launch the Space network in the USA by the end of 2020 and globally in around ten years. Other than SpaceX, OneWeb and Amazon are also aiming to launch satellites for the same purpose.
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