Starlink

Sachin Raja

Starlink is a satellite network aiming to deliver high speed broadband internet to rural areas. It is starting in the U.S. and Canada and will then expand to cover the globe. The network will be free of problems that inhibit other networks on Earth. It has the freedom of space; limitations on the ground are no longer a concern.

Starlink has implemented certain measures to minimize the waste left in space. The satellites have a propulsion system that they use to deorbit when they have reached end-of-life. They are also relatively small, allowing for SpaceX to launch many satellites at once in a compact manner. They have also cut processing costs by placing four powerful antennas on each satellite and have cut manufacturing costs by opting for simplicity in the systems.

While there are many benefits, hundreds of astronomers have said that the Starlink satellites interfere with their work. The satellites form constellations that are sometimes mistaken for stars. They are bright, distracting moving objects, and can leave trails. To combat these problems, Starlink has worked with the American Astronomical Society to make the satellites less visible. They have painted them black and maneuvered them to reflect less sunlight.