Space X Starlink
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Starlink is a satellite constellation development project by SpaceX, to develop a low-cost, high-performance satellite bus and requisite customer ground transceivers to implement a new spaceborne Internet communication system. SpaceX has said it will offer speeds of up to 1 Gbit/s, with latencies between 25 ms and 35 ms. Those latencies would make SpaceX's service comparable to cable and fiber, while existing satellite broadband services have latencies of 600 ms or more, according to FCC measurements.
HOW IT WORKS?
Each Starlink satellite is equipped with four powerful phased array antennas that are capable of an enormous amount of throughput when it comes to radio waves. Therefore, internet signal can be communicated up to a satellite and spread out through the network before being fired back down again to any location on Earth. Delivering internet via satellite is much more efficient because the signal travels 47% faster as a wave through the vacuum of space than it does being channelled along a fibre optic cable buried in the ground. From an infrastructure perspective, it also means there’s no need to lay vast amounts of cabling across parts of the world. Current satellites sending internet signals are around 22,236 miles (35,786 km) above the Earth. This results in a time delay in sending and receiving data. Starlink satellites are smaller and orbit closer, meaning they can carry and triangulate data much faster.
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ADVANTAGES
High-Speed Broadband
Estimates suggest that Starlink may offer 1Gb/s download speeds once the system is fully operational, far exceeding the beta’s speeds of 50-150Mb/s. Even at the lowest speeds, Starlink's beta is still able to provide 10x the minimum requirements for HD streaming.
Low Latency
Starlink's satellites will be in low Earth orbit, just 550km above the Earth's surface and 60x lower than existing networks. This greatly reduces the distance signals need to travel. A lower orbit ensures drastically lower latency, with Starlink expecting just 20-40ms of latency, compared to the 600ms of traditional satellites. Low latency brings with it the ability or video calls and online gaming for those in areas without reliable internet.
Customer Base
Starlink has the potential to bring broadband to billions, as it doesn’t rely on ground infrastructure Starlink can bypass geographic and economic boundaries which typically constrain the expansion of broadband. The network will have a potential customer base spanning not only the developing world but also the developed world, as many in rural regions still struggle with poor quality internet connections.
DISADVANTAGES
Orbital Traffic
With increasing satellite numbers come fears that crashes will become a greater risk. With a potential fleet of 42,000 satellites, increasing overall numbers by 15x, Starlink could pose a threat to existing and future orbital projects. The European Space Agency reported in September 2019 that it had performed evasive manoeuvres, for the first time, to avoid a Starlink satellite. However, SpaceX has sought to relieve fears by incorporating an automatic avoidance system using data provided by NORAD, to prevent any further incidents.
Space Debris
Alongside traffic, debris left by damaged or retired satellites, poses an increasing threat to orbital safety. The emergence of 'space junk' has the potential to obliterate the world's orbital capabilities through exponential chain reactions. SpaceX promises that Starlink's low orbiting altitude will prevent debris, as 95% of the satellite is designed to burn up in the atmosphere once decommissioned. SpaceX has also made it clear that future Starlink satellites will burn up completely.
Brightening the Night Sky
Astronomers are particularly concerned that the scale and low orbit of the project will fill the night sky with reflections, ruining stargazing conditions. SpaceX has responded to this criticism, seeking ways to reduce the visibility of their satellites, such as an experimental system called DarkSat, which involved blackening as much of the satellite's reflective surfaces as possible. While DarkSat did result in a 55% reduction in visibility it has proved unsustainable due to conduction problems. Future Starlink designs are set to feature visors, limiting the amount of reflected light
IS STARLINK REALLY WORTH IT?
Despite competition and technical challenges, Starlink appears to be poised to provide a revolutionary global service, offering high-speed broadband across the globe. The use of SpaceX's reusable rockets is seeing 60 satellites put into orbit per mission, rapidly expanding the network's size and capabilities.The growth potential is huge, provided SpaceX successfully manages to scale up the network and reduce prices. However, it is important to note that Starlink is not intended to replace existing ADSL, Fibre Optic, or Cable services, as it simply cannot compete in terms of speed or latency. Instead, Starlink is aimed at connecting those without access to these services, a potential game-changer for remote areas and the developing world.