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Starlink is now on all seven continents, enabled by its space laser network

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Re: Starlink is now on all seven continents, enabled by its space laser network

#71

Post by dylan604 »

wmf wrote: post #68
dylan604 wrote: post #56

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I mean, they kind of are, right? If the Chinese and Russian people came up with their own gear to receive/send compatible signals with the signal, then they could use it. Of course, authorized accounts would probably be problematic. Getting Starlink branded gear to use will also be hard in those countries.

No, they could not use it. I'm pretty sure the satellites turn off their transmitters and receivers when passing over unlicensed countries (if for no other reason than to save power).

that's just a software update though if Starlink so chooses to do so. they cost like $0.50 a piece, so if Putin wants to spend money effort to take a couple out to prove whatever point, then it costs them much much more than it does starlink. and at the rate they are getting launched, it won't be a very long lasting worthless accomplishment

Re: Starlink is now on all seven continents, enabled by its space laser network

#72

Post by db48x »

capableweb wrote: post #63
mchusma wrote: post #58

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This is availability for purchase map, not coverage.

What is the difference? If I pick an address in Africa, it tells me "Service date is unknown at this time", does that mean they have coverage there but I cannot purchase it if I live there? So I could, if I live in Africa, buy it and send it to an address in Europe, go pick it up and then use it from my home in Africa?

Hover more thoroughly. Different countries and regions have different tooltips.

But no, you would not be able to ship the user terminal to Africa and use it. You can’t even move it more than a few dozen miles from the address they have on file and keep using it, unless you have the more expensive license for mobile users (think RVs and boats and such). Even then it stops working if you enter an area where service is unavailable.

Re: Starlink is now on all seven continents, enabled by its space laser network

#73

Post by closewith »

FpUser wrote: post #42
closewith wrote: post #18

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Neither could destroy SpaceX satellites as fast as they can be launched. No State can. The issue would be whether they could cause enough damage to make the orbital plane (temporarily) unusable.

Are those protected from EMP that can kill scores at once?

There's currently more than 3,000 satellites in the constellation. Killing scores or even hundreds isn't enough. The only known EMP weapons that could really impact the constellation is nuclear, and at that point, knocking out Starlink is the least of our worries.

Re: Starlink is now on all seven continents, enabled by its space laser network

#75

Post by minhazm »

deelowe wrote: post #47
thatcherc wrote: post #9

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yup, I think that's the implication of the "space laser network". The plan for Starlink has been to have laser crosslinks between the satellites to provide coverage in places where the satellites can't directly see a ground station.

That's the plan, but it's an unimaginably difficult task. Many have speculated they wouldn't be able to pull it off at scale.

Forgive my ignorance but I don't understand why it's an unimaginably difficult task. The satellites are operating in a vacuum with no weather interference or anything and have line of sight to each other. I would think that it should actually be easy to pull off, and actually should get easier at scale since the distances between individual satellites would shrink and would be easier to align the laser links.

Re: Starlink is now on all seven continents, enabled by its space laser network

#76

Post by dageshi »

hollander wrote: post #5

How about providing free internet to China and Russia, to give the people there proper information without government oversight?

Practical reasons?

The government would restrict or ban import or sale of the hardware. They'd make them illegal and use possession of one as a reason to throw the owner in jail.

Re: Starlink is now on all seven continents, enabled by its space laser network

#77

Post by dakr »

FeistySkink wrote: post #31
erikpukinskis wrote: post #22

Does this mean we’ll start seeing more Antarctic TikTokers? Exciting!

A new ice bucket challenge.

There's a 300 degree club at the south pole. Strip, jump in 200 degF water, then run outside around the building where it's -100 degF.

Re: Starlink is now on all seven continents, enabled by its space laser network

#78

Post by 42e6e8c8-f7b8-4 »

closewith wrote: post #18
cududa wrote: post #11

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You know both Russia and China are perfectly capable of targeting and destroying satellites, yes?

Neither could destroy SpaceX satellites as fast as they can be launched. No State can. The issue would be whether they could cause enough damage to make the orbital plane (temporarily) unusable.

I think a laser mounted on one of their satellites could get the job done. Their militaries may even have that already.

Re: Starlink is now on all seven continents, enabled by its space laser network

#79

Post by capableweb »

db48x wrote: post #70
capableweb wrote: post #64

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That makes perfect sense. If the service is not available, it's not available. The reason why doesn't make a difference "how available" it is. Either it is, or it isn't. Seems a bit like false marketing to say "Starlink is now on all seven continents" when it's more like "Starlink has satellites over seven continents but you can only actually use it on five of them"

Well, if you hover over various countries where it’s not yet available, it will tell you when they estimate that it will be available. Nigeria says “Q4 2022”, which is not very far away. In order to be sure of having service available in a month or two, they have surely already built a ground station or two, printed some instruction booklets in Nigerian, hired some Nigerian sales reps, etc.

Yeah, I saw that when you hover, it shows you an estimate of when it'll be available. But saying that it's available in X weeks/months/years in Africa directly conflicts with the tweet saying "Starlink is now on all seven continents" when it's not available in Africa or Asia right now.

Re: Starlink is now on all seven continents, enabled by its space laser network

#80

Post by gpm »

closewith wrote: post #18
cududa wrote: post #11

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You know both Russia and China are perfectly capable of targeting and destroying satellites, yes?

Neither could destroy SpaceX satellites as fast as they can be launched. No State can. The issue would be whether they could cause enough damage to make the orbital plane (temporarily) unusable.

They have directed energy weapons that could probably destroy individual satellites one at a time faster than they could be launched.
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