Man, I love when sci-fi becomes reality. It's the cool things that get me excited for some parts of the future, and this is exactly that.
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What, exactly, is unrealistic about lasers?
Starlink is now on all seven continents, enabled by its space laser network
81–90 of 209 posts
Re: Starlink is now on all seven continents, enabled by its space laser network
#82How about providing free internet to China and Russia, to give the people there proper information without government oversight?
How about getting Tesla banned from China and possibly starting an orbital war that triggers the Kessler syndrome?
Also, the backbone of Tesla's production rests on the factory in Shanghai.
Re: Starlink is now on all seven continents, enabled by its space laser network
#83Earlier 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"
Eh, it depends on who "you" are. I'm pretty sure the USAF can use them on all seven continents. Meanwhile I, not having a contract, can't use them on any continent.
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Re: Starlink is now on all seven continents, enabled by its space laser network
#84How about providing free internet to China and Russia, to give the people there proper information without government oversight?
Hey, if that's a cause you believe in, how about you start a non-profit to do it? You could really help some people.
Re: Starlink is now on all seven continents, enabled by its space laser network
#85Earlier quoted context omitted.
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…
So realistically then, " This is availability for purchase map, not coverage. " makes no sense, because it is for a fact not available in Africa.
Re: Starlink is now on all seven continents, enabled by its space laser network
#86[Deleted]
I agree that the debris problem is one of those commons-type issues that’ll cost way more to fix than if we’d prevented it in the first place. However, for starlink specifically aren’t the satellites all low enough to deorbit and burn up automatically within 5 years? This should eliminate the orbital debris problem for this constellation specifically. A different problem is what happens with all the burnt up aluminum…
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Re: Starlink is now on all seven continents, enabled by its space laser network
#87One thing that may be related to Starlink, or not - it happened to me already twice that I was just randomly gazing at stars and noticed long streak of satellites in a row. One around last christmas and one few weeks ago. In places cca 1500km apart in Europe.
First one the satellites were evenly spaced, sometimes 1-2 were 'missing' and I could see between gap in the clouds maybe 7-8 at the same time. Altogether maybe 30.
Second time, the spacing wasnt even but there were at least 60 of them till the show finished.
Of course real number could be much higher since I noticed them ranfomly when looking up. Their line was perfectly aligned and they were going fast (probably close to Earth).
I guess this is how satellite launches look these days, but never saw more than 1 satellite at the same time in the same trajectory on the sky, and then this. Very futuristic experience.
Re: Starlink is now on all seven continents, enabled by its space laser network
#88Earlier quoted context omitted.
I had a buddy [1] that worked in the kitchen at Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station for a few seasons in 2012-2014. From what he told me: The internet works at certain times of the day at different bandwidths depending on the satellite. I think at that time there was 3 in orbit, and one of them was a retired Navy sat that had like dial-up speed. Also everything that goes to the station stays there so the vinyl collecti…
> Also everything that goes to the station stays there What's the reasoning behind that? Presumably people bring back clothes and other personal affects right?
Given the cost of getting things there, it's probably polite to leave things like movies that you could easily replace back home, so others have them to watch.
Re: Starlink is now on all seven continents, enabled by its space laser network
#89How about providing free internet to China and Russia, to give the people there proper information without government oversight?
You know both Russia and China are perfectly capable of targeting and destroying satellites, yes?
They'll find it easier, both technologically and diplomatically, to target and destroy Starlink receivers (and their owners) within their borders.
Re: Starlink is now on all seven continents, enabled by its space laser network
#90Earlier quoted context omitted.
I agree that the debris problem is one of those commons-type issues that’ll cost way more to fix than if we’d prevented it in the first place. However, for starlink specifically aren’t the satellites all low enough to deorbit and burn up automatically within 5 years? This should eliminate the orbital debris problem for this constellation specifically. A different problem is what happens with all the burnt up aluminum…
[Deleted]
If something perturbs a Starlink orbit, it might raise apogee but would also lower perigee, which means it would fall out of the sky even faster.