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posted by chromas on Saturday March 31 2018, @04:44AM   Printer-friendly
from the ping6-from-outer-space dept.

Arthur T Knackerbracket has found the following story:

The Federal Communications Commission approved an application by Space Exploration Holdings, doing business as SpaceX, to provide broadband services using satellite technology in the United States and around the world. With this action, the Commission takes another step to increase high-speed broadband availability and competition in the United States.

This is the first approval of a U.S.-licensed satellite constellation to provide broadband services using a new generation of low-Earth orbit satellite technologies. SpaceX proposed a satellite system comprised of 4,425 satellites and was granted authority to use frequencies in the Ka (20/30 GHz) and Ku (11/14 GHz) bands to provide global Internet connectivity.

From Techcrunch:

The company has already launched test versions of the satellites, but the full constellation will need to go out more than two at a time. SpaceX eventually plans to launch 12,000 of the things, but this authorization is for the high-altitude group of 4,425; a separate authorization is necessary for the remaining number, since they'll be operating at a different altitude and radio frequency.

-- submitted from IRC


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  • (Score: 2) by Freeman on Monday April 02 2018, @02:51PM (2 children)

    by Freeman (732) on Monday April 02 2018, @02:51PM (#661495) Journal

    This isn't much different than existing Satellite Internet. Sure they're "Lots closer", but 700+ miles up is still a really, really long way. Typical commercial aircraft don't go above 30-35k feet (less than 7 miles up). Even most military aircraft don't go much higher. In comparison the SR-71 Blackbird maxed out at around 85k feet. Space is a measly 50-60 miles up, it's the gravity well that extends really, really far. Awesome XKCD https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php/File:gravity_wells.png [explainxkcd.com]

    Looking up info for this answer really put the earth into perspective for me. The atmosphere that's keeping us all alive isn't "very high".

    --
    Joshua 1:9 "Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee"
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  • (Score: 2) by maxwell demon on Monday April 02 2018, @06:52PM (1 child)

    by maxwell demon (1608) on Monday April 02 2018, @06:52PM (#661620) Journal

    The relevant point is not the height as such. As long as it is not in the geostationary orbit, it will move over other countries, and as long as it sends strong enough to allow internet connections from earth, it has the ability to disturb other signals there (this includes in particular signals from other, geostationary satellites).

    --
    The Tao of math: The numbers you can count are not the real numbers.
    • (Score: 2) by Freeman on Monday April 02 2018, @07:51PM

      by Freeman (732) on Monday April 02 2018, @07:51PM (#661645) Journal

      Again, something that hasn't caused a problem with existing Satellite Internet Providers. Either, this is something they work around, they also provide service in those areas, or isn't a problem. It's entirely possible that existing Satellite Providers workaround this issue simply by stopping transmission when the satellite is out of range of the area they provide service. It just seems like you're trying to make a mountain out of a mole hill.

      --
      Joshua 1:9 "Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee"