SpaceX will launch nearly 12,000 satellites around the Earth

SpaceX and its founder Elon Musk spoke for the first time of their plans to build a satellite network for Internet connectivity.

It seems that these projects are taking shape a bit – the US Federal Communications Office has authorized the launch of nearly 12,000 satellites.

According to data released by the service, the number of satellites is expected to increase from mid-2019 and the entire network is expected to be completed by nine years and by the end of 2027. The satellites will fly around the Earth in a 335 to 346 km high orbit, a bit lower than the International Space Station. They should become a faster Internet connection than today's optical cables because the electromagnetic signals in the cables are about a third slower than in the air or in the vacuum. A signal transmitted by satellite will take a slightly longer distance, but will take less time.

In addition, satellite Internet would disconnect a fast connection from physical connection points, so that the connection would work in peripheral areas, at sea and even in the same space.

So far, SpaceX has not released precise information about the orbits of its satellites, but many of them are expected to be able to focus between 47 and 52 degrees in both hemispheres .

Another important aspect of this news is the number of satellites. So far, only about 8,000 satellites have been launched by users, of which about a third and a half still work. If SpaceX implements its plans, the number of satellites in the terrestrial environment will increase by half an hour. With such satellites, there is a big problem: their failures. SpaceX's small satellites only function normally for about five years. It is therefore possible that the company has to update its satellites every five years. This will not only lead to financial difficulties, but also the proliferation of space debris. Perhaps the Internet in space will encourage progress in space debris or satellite service and longevity.

By the way, SpaceX is not the only company to plan on the internet, with many other companies behind it, from Samsung and Telesat telecoms to Facebook, Google and the giant Boeing.