Starlink is a satellite internet constellation operated by SpaceX. Elon Musk, its founder, aims at deploying a total of 42,000 satellites. The technology works by connecting thousands of satellites in Low Earth Orbit (LOE), orbiting at around 550km from the Earth, compared to classic geostationary satellites, orbiting the planet at 35,786km (Starlink, n.d.). The low latency of the connection (20ms vs 600+ms) makes it possible for people to use video calls, streaming or online gaming (Starlink, n.d.). The company has launched close to 3,400 satellites so far (Wall, 2022), and launches new satellites regularly (satellites launch can be seen in the sky like in the picture above). Starlink satellites are constantly moving and interconnected via laser beam, they already serve 32 countries as of August 2022 (Crist, 2022).
Starlink offers numerous advantages. It allows both individuals and businesses to use its services and benefit from a world, of high-speed internet coverage. Easy to use, it only requires buying a Starlink Kit, which provides an antenna that will automatically orient itself towards the nearest Starlink satellite to connect within minutes, providing a clear view of the sky (Starlink, n.d.). The satellite network has proven itself very useful in recent events, helping restore the internet in Florida, where hurricane Ian destroyed many infrastructures, leaving hundreds of thousands of people without electricity (Biron, 2022). Another example of its application is in Ukraine. SpaceX spent around $80 million dollars so far, sending thousands of Starlink satellite kits to Ukraine, helping Ukrainian soldiers communicate on the battlefield (Pandurangi, 2022).
However, the service proposed by SpaceX also poses some problems. There is a first concern regarding the light pollution of the sky by Starlink satellites constellation. They are more visible right before sunrise and right after sunset and interfere with astronomers’ observation of the sky (McDowell, 2020). The more satellites will be active in the sky, the more they will interfere with the astronomers’ work, who will less be able to observe asteroids (which can be potential threats), black holes, or new planets. A second concern is satellite debris. More satellites in orbit could potentially increase the number of crashes, creating more satellite debris, creating more crashes etc., known as the Kessler syndrome (Kessler et al., 2010). Finally, SpaceX is likely to face more regulations from American institutions, as well as competition with similar projects (Amazon and China are developing similar projects).
References
Biron, B. (2022, October 2). Elon Musk will deliver 120 Starlink satellites to southwest Florida to help residents get back online after Hurricane Ian. Business Insider. Retrieved October 6, 2022, from https://www.businessinsider.com/elon-musk-delivers-starlink-internet-florida-hurricane-ian-2022-10?international=true&r=US&IR=T
Crist, R. (2022, August 11). Starlink Explained: Everything to Know About Elon Musk’s Satellite Internet Venture. CNET. Retrieved October 6, 2022, from https://www.cnet.com/home/internet/starlink-satellite-internet-explained/
Glen, S. (n.d.). Fixed Effects / Random Effects / Mixed Models and Omitted Variable Bias. Statistics How To. Retrieved October 4, 2022, from https://www.statisticshowto.com/experimental-design/fixed-effects-random-mixed-omitted-variable-bias/#omitted
Kessler, Johnson, Liou, & Matney. (2010, February). The Kessler Syndrome: Implications to Future Space operations (AAS 10-016). American Astronautical Society. Retrieved October 6, 2022, from https://threecountrytrustedbroker.com/media/kesseler_syndrome.pdf
McDowell, J. C. (2020, April 6). The Low Earth Orbit Satellite Population and Impacts of the SpaceX Starlink Constellation. The Astrophysical Journal, 892(2), L36. https://doi.org/10.3847/2041-8213/ab8016
Pandurangi, N. (2022, October 4). Hours after being blasted for parroting Putin’s propaganda, Elon Musk says he is “obviously” pro-Ukraine and says SpaceX has spent $80 million on Starlink in the country. Business Insider. Retrieved October 6, 2022, from https://www.businessinsider.com/musk-says-spacex-spent-80-million-starlink-ukraine-2022-10?international=true&r=US&IR=T
Riegg, S. K. (2008). Causal Inference and Omitted Variable Bias in Financial Aid Research: Assessing Solutions. The Review of Higher Education, 31(3), 329–354. https://doi.org/10.1353/rhe.2008.0010
Starlink. (n.d.). WORLD’S MOST ADVANCED BROADBAND SATELLITE INTERNET. Retrieved October 6, 2022, from https://www.starlink.com/technology
Wall, M. (2022, September 25). SpaceX launches another 52 Starlink satellites, lands rocket at sea. Space.com. Retrieved October 6, 2022, from https://www.space.com/spacex-starlink-satellite-launch-group-4-35
Williams, R. (2018). Panel Data 4: Fixed Effects vs Random Effects Models. nd.edu. Retrieved October 5, 2022, from https://www3.nd.edu/~rwilliam/stats3/Panel04-FixedVsRandom.pdf
