Consider this an update to an article we ran two years headlined, “Three high tech giants plans to bring cheap internet to everyone in the world.” Those three companies are Google, Facebook and SpaceX.
To be blunt, SpaceX and Tesla-founder Elon Musk has never been afflicted with a shortage of audacity. In addition to owning Tesla, the world’s most advanced electric car company, he’s also building a fleet of reusable rockets, claims he’s going to colonize Mars, says he’s going to build his own personal tunnel under Los Angeles to make his commute easier, and wants to offer worldwide high-speed internet access by launching what he calls a “constellation” of satellites.
It’s that last item that we find most interesting. We’re not embarrassed to say that Musk has repeatedly proven doubters (like us) wrong over the years and he may just do it again with his “constellation” of broadband-providing satellites.
As phys.org reported, “In November of 2016, SpaceX filed an application with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) for a license to operate this constellation of non-geostationary satellites (NGS). And earlier this week, the US Senate Committee on Commerce. Science, and Transportation convened a hearing to explore this proposal for next-generation telecommunications services.”
Naturally, the hearings were given the kind of overly wordy title we’ve come to expect from government committees. In this case, the title was “Investing in America’s Broadband Infrastructure: Exploring Ways to Reduce Barriers to Deployment.”
Patricia Cooper, Musk’s VP of Satellite Government Affairs, testified that, “SpaceX sees substantial demand for high-speed broad band in the United States and worldwide. As the Committee is aware, millions of Americans outside of limited urban areas lack basic, reliable access. Furthermore, even in urban areas, a majority of Americans lacks more than a single fixed broadband provider from which to choose and may seek additional competitive options for high-speed service.”
According to the Federal Communications Commission findings, America trails other developed nations in terms of broadband speed, access, and affordability. The FCC also said that 34 million American lack access to 25 Mbps broadband service and another 47% of students lack service that meets the FCC’s goals. (While this is undoubtedly true, CheapInternet.com believes the FCC’s goals are unrealistically high and unnecessary.)
Musk and SpaceX want to solve these problems (and others) by launching a vast fleet of 4,425 broadband satellites.
Yes, you read this correctly. 4,425 satellites.
SpaceX says the first one will be put into orbit in 2019 and then the launches will continue until all 4,425 satellites have been put into orbit by 2024.
“Later this year, SpaceX will begin the process of testing the satellites themselves, launching one prototype before the end of the year and another during the early months of 2018,” Cooper told the Congressional hearing. “…The remaining satellites in the constellation will be launched in phases through 2024, when the system will reach full capacity…”
And that’s just the beginning. SpaceX plans to put an additional 7,500 satellites into lower orbits to increase broadband capacity in larger metropolitan areas.
If SpaceX can meet its very aggressive goals, it may be a solution to a problem that’s barreling down the highway in our direction. As phys.org said, “It is expected that internet use will reach proportions unheard of a few decades ago.”
Experts estimate that the number of internet users will jump to nearly 5 billion in the next few years. That’s up from a mere 1.7 billion users worldwide in 2010.
We wish Musk and SpaceX well. We hope they end up launching so many rockets that the skies look like a 4th of July fireworks celebration. And we hope that when the smoke clears, EVERYONE finds the kind of high-speed, low-cost internet access they need in today’s world.
Steve says
Stratolaunch, World’s Largest Airplane, will Launch Rockets and Satellites into Space.
Stratolaunch, the world’s largest aircraft that will commercialize the air-launch of satellite-carrying rockets, was unveiled yesterday in California at the space port of its owner, Stratolaunch Systems.
Previously called “Scaled Composites Model 351” (nicknamed the “Roc”), the plane provides a platform from which air-launch space missions can be staged. To attain this aim means this plane has had to be massive in every way.
The project was officially announced in December 2011 by Microsoft co-founder Paul G. Allen and Scaled Composites founder Burt Rutan, who had previously collaborated on the creation of SpaceShipOne.
The project is a mobile launch system with three primary components; a carrier aircraft being built by Scaled Composites, a multi-stage payload “launch vehicle” which would be launched at high altitude into space from under the carrier aircraft, plus a mating and integration system by Dynetics.
The first test flights are planned to begin in 2017, with a goal of a commercial launch by 2020.
https://youtu.be/LGZPVqnwZQ8
Steve
Larry B. says
I wonder what all these satellites will cost? Elon Musk seems to be involved with new technologies which use subsidies and tax credits to stay afloat and making himself wealthy. Will this still be possible in the current political climate?
Satellites also add latency,making some real-time communications like Vonage and Google Voice, difficult or impossible to use.
I’m still hoping Google Fiber will come to my area eventually, but not holding my breath
CheapInternet.com Administrator says
We agree with you 100%, Larry. Everything we read about Musk (other than the glowing PR his companies pump out) indicates that his companies all depend on government subsidies that come directly from state and federal taxes or tax credits from other companies. We’re not smart enough to figure the whole thing out, but something’s doesn’t seem right.
Steve says
As said – “first one will be put into orbit in 2019 and then the launches will continue until all 4,425 satellites have been put into orbit by 2024”
That’s roughly 737 a year for 6 years. Wonder their size? Will a rocket be supplied to drop off multiples of them? As technology advances the old Sci-Fi realm is so stagnant now.
Homeowners maybe have to look for insuring against space debris now – going to be kinda of hard getting a repairman out there don’t ya think. Not like beam me up Scotty – is going to work.
The technology aspect of user speed would deem them to be 5G or something better, else soon to be outdated by ground systems advances. Just a far off wonder if – can the consumer buy into one and get free service like of wind / solar tech offers now?
Or before cell phones when you could buy your own street/road side Pay-Phones – anybody remember them?
Wonder if the National security agency’s will have something installed on them to monitor/track bad guys in the USA – or whatever?
That little strip in money bills now, to see who hording cash not claimed?
As myself and other low-income Americans, we’ll be on the back page to see any of this coming into our homes or life’s.
Off Earth colonization – man I hope not, as we “the human race” can’t get it right in our own streets and neighborhoods. . . Think of a place where there’s not an establishment to rules and of a government body – what doors will be open or shut to life as we know it. Then take the worst desert climate and think of living there, with no water, oxygen, or visible life, but plenty of rocks and dust with one heck of a sky or back drop.
Steve
CheapInternet.com Administrator says
Yeah, we did the same math you did and questioned it. Almost impossible to believe that Elon Musk will be able to put two satellites into orbit EVERY single day for six years. Of course, we thought Tesla would be bankrupt by this time, too, but it’s now more valuable than General Motors. If we were economic geniuses, we probably wouldn’t be writing about low-income internet.
Steve says
I hear you C I brothers and sisters!
A rocket is one thing and a space shuttle another.
One truly serves a better intended purpose.
Our atmosphere could use a world wide TAX (Green-House-Gases tax) be issued and taxed on anything polluting it, which rockets ships and the like can’t be good for it. COM’ON where the electric rockets and Space vehicles showing in the green industry?
A factory in space anyone? Just jump over to planet X for ? and planet Q for ? – to get raw materials, interesting thoughts yes?
Space is kind of like the old Wild West Frontier was when the expansion began with English colonial settlements in the early 18th century and ended with the admission of the last mainland territories as states in 1912.
I feel Space should not be a first come and take all theme, but in the closest reachable heavenly bodies be equally portioned up and mapped out for everybody before hand, and all nations included. Or like to the model of our National parks where it’s preserved for the future generations. Not exploited for personal gain.
A Universe Government or deciding acting body established before hand being in charge, and that is different than Earths multicultural mess – dealing with across borders, out of country conflicts – we see and face today.
The oceans and seas is a good example I’m seeing, who owns something liquid that touch’s many parts of the landscape? Just because it’s close or touching a country, the public street out in front of my house touches my property, so (in that logic) of the seas and oceans, I should be able to say who commutes on it – Right? No as common sense rules and the need for the right of ways in life. If we could only loose hostility towards one and another. Leave it to the Judges and courts to settle our disputes – not guns and war in personal vengeance.
It’s interesting to note that Sci-Fi takes of space travel and off world settlements (even lately) all exhibits wars and human conflicts in them, a good and bad guy, someone right and then someone wrong. If we know not human peace and personal dignity and contentment here on Earth’s human civilization model – how then in space will we learn it? ;<.(… The human race isn't ready for space! Children having children is the biggest harm, when the body grows faster than the mind. . .
Steve
Steve says
Interesting to see this guy and hear his words, wither it’s fact or fiction – you make the call. Does have a ring to it…if the wealth was to be redistributed and then what would be considered something of wealth – if there was nobody poor anymore. Then war wouldn’t exist – right?
CheapInternet.com Administrator says
Sorry, Steve, but we have a policy against posting unrelated links.