As if he didn't already have enough superprojects on his plate, Elon Musk, the head of Tesla and SpaceX, continues with his idea to bring the internet to the most isolated regions of the globe, and why not, also establish a new competitor among traditional providers. The key behind that dream is to place 4,000 satellites in orbit, for which Musk has already requested official permission from the U.S. FCC to start testing. Needless to say, he is not alone in such an adventure...
We all agree that the lack of information can have very serious consequences. Into that group we can place things like health, food, education, science, transportation, security, prevention (of all kinds), economy, politics... and the list goes on. For some, expanding and increasing access to information is one of the most important priorities. Others, among whom Bill Gates stands out, believe that covering basic needs is more critical, such as access to safe water or a cure for malaria. It is a complex debate with powerful arguments on both sides, but that doesn't stop them from advancing their vision. What brings us here today is effectively information, or the hope of accessing it from anywhere, and the story turns to none other than Elon Musk.
His plan was officially presented at the beginning of this year: 4,000 satellites in low orbit, with initial service within the next five years. The process to obtain the necessary permits is extremely complex, and we must not forget that the ITU applies the concept of "First-Come-First-Serve", meaning that Elon Musk already has competition. I am referring to the OneWeb constellation, backed by Virgin Galactic and another multimillionaire/visionary named Richard Branson. SpaceX requested permission from the FCC to begin testing with two units, MicroSat 1a and 1b, which will be placed in low orbit using a Falcon 9 rocket, staying at 625 kilometers from the Earth's surface for a period between six and twelve months.
In addition to competing projects and the general cost of this constellation (Musk said last January he estimated about ten billion dollars), it is also necessary to consider technical challenges. Low orbits partially solve the latency problems of satellite connections, but they are exchanged for atmospheric resistance, and the detail that a satellite closer to Earth has "less coverage". Even so... he wouldn't be trying to do something like this if he didn't have the mechanisms and resources to overcome each obstacle. Can Elon Musk succeed where others have failed?
