A Truly World-Wide Web
https://edgylabs.com/spacex-satellite-network-soon-to-be-named-starlink/
Elon Musk being Elon Musk, is attempting to create a network of satellites that would provide cheap, fast internet access to the entire world. While this task seems Herculean, at this point it probably isn’t wise to doubt the willpower of Musk. Musk plans to launch over 4,000 satellites into Earth’s orbit in order to achieve his goal. This project, named STARLINK, would be revolutionary if it is ever accomplished. The cost will be unprecedented at around 10 billion dollars and the effects of it would be incredible. Anyone anywhere would be able to access the internet through these satellites. Musk seems hell-bent on improving the state of the world by extending the boundaries of technological innovation as much as he can. Musk wants to include everybody on the plant in a world-wide communications system. Musk’s vision of giving everyone satellite-based internet services is truly a monumental undertaking. Most recently Musk and SpaceX have filed an application with the FCC to launch a field of over 7,500 satellites. To put this into perspective, there are about 1,500 active satellites in Earth’s orbit right now.
This article is particularly interesting as we have recently been exploring the concept of the internet and the world-wide web as networks in class. It is an interesting look into the sustainability of a network. Satellites are certainly harder to service and maintain than the servers that currently store the immense amount of data on the internet. What if one satellite goes down, for one reason or another? How does this affect the availability and quality of the internet service and the information on the network itself. Will each satellite have the same amount of power in the network, or will the ones that pass over high-traffic areas at high-traffic times be more equipped to handle these situations than the other satellites? This satellite network is an interesting way to look at some of the topics recently covered in class in a current situation.