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Starlink
What is Starlink, exactly?
Technically a division within SpaceX, Starlink is also the name of the spaceflight company’s growing network – or “constellation” – of orbital satellites. The development of that network began in 2015, with the first prototype satellites launched into orbit in 2018.
In the years since, SpaceX has deployed thousands of Starlink satellites into the constellation across dozens of successful launches, the most recent of which took place on Aug. 9 and delivered another 52 satellites into low-Earth orbit. That brings the total number of satellites launched to 2,662, more than 2,000 of which appear to be operational parts of the constellation.
Those satellites can connect our home to the internet?
Just like existing providers of satellite internet like HughesNet or Viasat, Starlink wants to sell internet access – particularly to people in rural areas and other parts of the world who don’t already have access to high-speed broadband.
All you need to do to make the connection is set up a small satellite dish at your home to receive the signal and pass the bandwidth on to your router. The company offers a number of mounting options for rooftops, yards and the exterior of your home. There’s even a Starlink app for Android and iOS that uses augmented reality to help customers pick the best location and position for their receivers.
Where is Starlink available?
Despite promising to blanket the entire globe in coverage by this fall, Starlink service is currently limited to select regions in select countries. Still, the coverage map will grow considerably as more satellites join the constellation.
Per Musk, the list of countries currently serviced by the growing network of low-earth orbit satellites includes the US, Canada, the UK, France, Germany, Austria, the Netherlands, Ireland, Belgium, Switzerland, Denmark, Portugal, Australia and New Zealand. Starlink’s preorder agreement includes options for requesting service in other countries, too, including Italy, Poland, Spain and Chile.
Is Starlink reliable?
Early reports from outlets like Fast Company and CNBC seem to indicate that Starlink’s first customers are satisfied with the service, though the company warns of “brief periods of no connectivity at all” during beta.
The website DownDetector.com, which tracks service outages, lists four disruptions to Starlink in 2021, one each in January, February, and April, with the most recent outage occurring on May 6. For comparison, DownDetector lists no major outages in 2021 for HughesNet, and one in February for ViaSat.
Starlink users spanning from Arizona to Alberta, Canada noted the May outage on Reddit – for most, service seemed to resume within a few hours.
What about bad weather and other obstructions?
That’s definitely one of the downsides to satellite internet. Per Starlink’s FAQ, the receiver is capable of melting snow that lands on it, but it can’t do anything about surrounding snow build-up and other obstructions that might block its line of sight to the satellite.
Are there other issues with Starlink’s satellites?
There’s plenty of concern about the proliferation of privately owned satellites in space, and controversy in astronomical circles about the impact low-orbiting satellites have on the night sky itself.
In 2019, shortly after the deployment of Starlink’s first broadband satellites, the International Astronomical Union released an alarm-sounding statement warning of unforeseen consequences for stargazing and for the protection of nocturnal wildlife.
“We do not yet understand the impact of thousands of these visible satellites scattered across the night sky and despite their good intentions, these satellite constellations may threaten both,” the statement reads.
Since then, Starlink has begun testing a variety of new designs intended to reduce the brightness and visibility of its satellites. At the start of 2020, the company tested a “DarkSat” satellite that included a special, nonreflective coating. Later, in June of 2020, the company launched a “VisorSat” satellite that features a special sunshade visor. In August, Starlink launched another batch of satellites – this time, all of them were equipped with visors.
“We want to make sure we do the right thing to make sure little kids can look through their telescope,” Shotwell said. “It’s cool for them to see a Starlink. But they should be looking at Saturn, at the moon … and not want to be interrupted.”
“The Starlink teams have worked closely with leading astronomers around the world to better understand the specifics of their observations and engineering changes we can make to reduce satellite brightness,” the company website reads.
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