Razors Edge ★ Posted January 6, 2020 Share #1 Posted January 6, 2020 ...the foundations for effective satellite Internet access creeps forward: This is SpaceX's first launch of the year and the third Starlink launch to date. The mission will also mark the second time SpaceX has flown a Falcon 9 first-stage booster for the fourth time; this booster previously hoisted another batch of Starlink satellites as well as the Iridium-8 and Telstar 18 VANTAGE missions. The goal of SpaceX's Starlink project is to provide constant high-speed internet access to users around the world through a massive constellation of broadband internet satellites operating in low-Earth orbit. Users on the ground would then only need a small terminal, no bigger than a laptop to gain internet access. "Starlink will provide fast, reliable internet to locations where access has been unreliable, expensive, or completely unavailable," the company wrote in its Starlink mission description. The majority of SpaceX's missions in 2020 will consist of Starlink launches as the company works to expand its fleet of internet-beaming satellites, including at least one more batch of 60 Starlink satellites scheduled to launch before the end of January. SpaceX CEO and founder Elon Musk has said the company will need at least 400 Starlink satellites in orbit to offer "minor" broadband coverage, and at least 800 to provide "moderate" coverage. With today's launch, the number of Starlink satellites in orbit will increase to 180. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MickinMD ★ Posted January 6, 2020 Share #2 Posted January 6, 2020 Excellent to know. Thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maddmaxx ★ Posted January 6, 2020 Share #3 Posted January 6, 2020 That's potentially a lot of space junk. Near earth orbits decay eventually due to miniscule amounts of air drag 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Page Turner Posted January 6, 2020 Share #4 Posted January 6, 2020 ...hello satellite internet access, goodbye earth observational astronomy. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KrAzY Posted January 7, 2020 Share #5 Posted January 7, 2020 I would love to know what the internet by satellite will cost... gonna suck trying to view distant place with my telescopes... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Razors Edge ★ Posted January 7, 2020 Author Share #6 Posted January 7, 2020 It never gets old: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Razors Edge ★ Posted January 7, 2020 Author Share #7 Posted January 7, 2020 19 hours ago, maddmaxx said: That's potentially a lot of space junk. Near earth orbits decay eventually due to miniscule amounts of air drag This explains it a bit: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Razors Edge ★ Posted January 7, 2020 Author Share #8 Posted January 7, 2020 17 hours ago, Page Turner said: ...hello satellite internet access, goodbye earth observational astronomy. 16 hours ago, KrAzY said: gonna suck trying to view distant place with my telescopes... From the follow up story: Not everyone is thrilled about the idea of SpaceX's new mega-constellation. Astronomers have voiced concerns that the satellites could interfere with crucial scientific observations. SpaceX's Starlink satellites stand out against the night sky. Almost immediately following the first launch, skywatchers noted that the tiny satellites are incredibly bright — even more so than the average satellite. That observation made scientists nervous about how the Starlink constellation could interfere with their work. Astronomers rely on ground-based telescopes to take long-exposure images of astronomical objects they want to study. When something bright passed in front of the telescope's field of view, it can obscure the image. Following the complaints, Musk and SpaceX said they would look into reducing the brightness of the satellites. To that end, the company says one of the satellites launching tonight will be unique. One side of it will be coated in a special material that will make it appear darker in orbit. If this test goes well, future versions of the satellites could be coated in the same material. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
12string Posted January 7, 2020 Share #9 Posted January 7, 2020 The one thing about satellites that I can't figure out - do they turn around right when they get to the edge of the earth or do they have to go a little bit past the edge? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kzoo Posted January 7, 2020 Share #10 Posted January 7, 2020 19 minutes ago, 12string said: The one thing about satellites that I can't figure out - do they turn around right when they get to the edge of the earth or do they have to go a little bit past the edge? They can fall off too you know. It's a gravity thing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MickinMD ★ Posted January 7, 2020 Share #11 Posted January 7, 2020 20 hours ago, maddmaxx said: That's potentially a lot of space junk. Near earth orbits decay eventually due to miniscule amounts of air drag These satellites will orbit around 300 miles up where the drag is highly reduced compared to the old 100 miles-up near-earth-orbit satellites. It's still there, but they're apparently located in one thin range of altitude. Hopefully, they'll be able to handle all of them right through final disintegation. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
12string Posted January 7, 2020 Share #12 Posted January 7, 2020 1 hour ago, Kzoo said: They can fall off too you know. It's a gravity thing. You fell for that gravity lie? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Indy Posted January 7, 2020 Share #13 Posted January 7, 2020 2 hours ago, 12string said: The one thing about satellites that I can't figure out - do they turn around right when they get to the edge of the earth or do they have to go a little bit past the edge? They fall off, that is why they have to keep launching more. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KrAzY Posted January 7, 2020 Share #14 Posted January 7, 2020 5 hours ago, Razors Edge said: From the follow up story: Not everyone is thrilled about the idea of SpaceX's new mega-constellation. Astronomers have voiced concerns that the satellites could interfere with crucial scientific observations. SpaceX's Starlink satellites stand out against the night sky. Almost immediately following the first launch, skywatchers noted that the tiny satellites are incredibly bright — even more so than the average satellite. That observation made scientists nervous about how the Starlink constellation could interfere with their work. Astronomers rely on ground-based telescopes to take long-exposure images of astronomical objects they want to study. When something bright passed in front of the telescope's field of view, it can obscure the image. Following the complaints, Musk and SpaceX said they would look into reducing the brightness of the satellites. To that end, the company says one of the satellites launching tonight will be unique. One side of it will be coated in a special material that will make it appear darker in orbit. If this test goes well, future versions of the satellites could be coated in the same material. coat the dang thing in whatever you want, it does not help the fact something will be passing in-front of what I'm taking a picture of... It will still leave a trail on a long exposure picture in one way or another. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maddmaxx ★ Posted January 7, 2020 Share #15 Posted January 7, 2020 45 minutes ago, KrAzY said: coat the dang thing in whatever you want, it does not help the fact something will be passing in-front of what I'm taking a picture of... It will still leave a trail on a long exposure picture in one way or another. Yabut you will be able to get the remaining parts of the picture out on the web world wide faster. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KrAzY Posted January 8, 2020 Share #16 Posted January 8, 2020 3 hours ago, maddmaxx said: Yabut you will be able to get the remaining parts of the picture out on the web world wide faster. but where's the fun in dat? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kzoo Posted January 8, 2020 Share #17 Posted January 8, 2020 6 hours ago, 12string said: You fell for that gravity lie? Maybe... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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