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| Credit: Space Exploration Technologies Corp. |
SpaceX is still in the early stages of developing advanced micro-satellites operating in large formations. Announcement in 2 to 3 months.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) November 11, 2014
According to the Wall Street Journal, Musk and Greg Wyler, who is a former Google Inc. executive and founder of WorldVu Satellites Ltd., have discussed a potential partnership between the two companies to collaboratively have these smaller, light-weight satellites manufactured in masses; satellite manufactures are now able to bid for the job. However, for reasons of cost reduction, some parts would be produced in-house. Talks with state officials in Colorado and Florida regarding possible location of factories have been held.
Fundamental objective of this project is to launch about 640 satellites, weighting less than 125 kilograms (250 pounds - "half the size of the smallest current commercial communications satellites") each and costing less than $1 million per unit, that ultimately provide means for everyone to connect - even if one lives in or travels to the most remote of places. By the end of this decade, half of the project's satellites could be orbiting Earth at some 800 kilometer (500 miles) above the surface in constellations that blanket the planet with constant Internet access and potentially put through 14 gigabits per second, "reducing lag time and delays with service." The $1.5 billion price-tag of the project might seem tremendously high, but if it successfully goes through, SpaceX as well as WorldVu would surely benefit monetarily but also promote their brand images with a mission that is quite altruistic in its roots.
Economies of scale, producing dozens/hundreds of standardized satellites at a time, would create a competitive advantage; however, Sierra Nevada Corp. and Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd. are competing against the project with their own production of notable small satellites. Google and Facebook are also working on projects that aim to provide global Internet access to millions of people. In the next few years, the upper atmosphere will become the battleground of a competition for the most superior, wide-ranged and efficient global Internet provider.
Fundamental objective of this project is to launch about 640 satellites, weighting less than 125 kilograms (250 pounds - "half the size of the smallest current commercial communications satellites") each and costing less than $1 million per unit, that ultimately provide means for everyone to connect - even if one lives in or travels to the most remote of places. By the end of this decade, half of the project's satellites could be orbiting Earth at some 800 kilometer (500 miles) above the surface in constellations that blanket the planet with constant Internet access and potentially put through 14 gigabits per second, "reducing lag time and delays with service." The $1.5 billion price-tag of the project might seem tremendously high, but if it successfully goes through, SpaceX as well as WorldVu would surely benefit monetarily but also promote their brand images with a mission that is quite altruistic in its roots.
Economies of scale, producing dozens/hundreds of standardized satellites at a time, would create a competitive advantage; however, Sierra Nevada Corp. and Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd. are competing against the project with their own production of notable small satellites. Google and Facebook are also working on projects that aim to provide global Internet access to millions of people. In the next few years, the upper atmosphere will become the battleground of a competition for the most superior, wide-ranged and efficient global Internet provider.
Living in a rural area where the Internet connection is tremendously slow - less than six mbps (no, I am not kidding) - I can still consider myself fortunate. More than half of the global population (about 60%, according to the International Telecommunication Union) does not use the Internet, mostly because they do not have access to it. The global usage of internet has been growing by an average of 11% annually since 2005 and 7.5% annually in the last three years. By the end of this decade, hopefully, a provider for affordable, unrestricted, high-speed Internet will be there to connect the unconnected - and perhaps offer me a speedier alternative while they're at it.
by Peter Steenhuis
Sources:
https://twitter.com/elonmusk
http://blogs.wsj.com/digits/2014/11/11/elon-musk-confirms-spacex-is-building-internet-satellites/?KEYWORDS=spacex
http://rt.com/usa/203647-elon-musk-internet-satellites/
http://online.wsj.com/articles/elon-musks-next-mission-internet-satellites-1415390062
http://www.iflscience.com/technology/spacex-will-soon-be-launching-satellites-unfettered-low-cost-internet
http://www.itu.int/en/ITU-D/Statistics/Pages/stat/default.aspx
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