Worried about Starlinks? Get ready for what's coming
Written By:
Bob King for the Duluth News Tribune |
12:25 pm, May 18, 2021
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A train of Starlink satellites marches across the W of Cassiopeia on May 8, 2021. As satellite numbers rapidly rise, it may soon become impossible to gaze at a starry sky uninterrupted by artificial "stars." (Bob King)
With the May 15th launch of 52 additional SpaceX Starlink satellites, there are now 1,677 in orbit. That's just 14 percent of the planned total of 12,000 that are expected to be in place by late 2027. SpaceX has requested a permit from the FCC for 30,000 more to supplement the fleet, for a potential grand total of 42,000 . In case you're not familiar with Starlink, it's a satellite-based, high-speed internet service that will cover underserved, rural areas as well as the more competitive urban areas across the planet. For $499 you get a router, tripod and small satellite dish; service is $99 a month.