The night sky has changed forever. For centuries, humanity has investigated the sky in search of the answers of the universe. Although the questions are still open, which shines, now there are not only stars, but also thousands of artificial satellites such as starOf Elon MuskThose who are colonizing the celestial vault. Its frantic expansion is promoting Connectivity Global, but also opens the door for problems.
In 2019, SpacexSuccessful aerospace company activated by technical tycoon, active starAn ambitious project broadband Internet In fact every corner of the planet. This was when he put his first 60 satellites in the orbit of each of 227 kg. “This would be like connecting a cable to heaven, a new plug,” he predicted at a telematics conference two years later Mobile World Congress (MWC), which is re -held in Barcelona from Monday.
Then, its purpose was a distant reverence, but, six years later, according to a fleet of 7,052 active satellites in the project, according to. Data collected by astronomers Jonathan McDowell on their websiteBut Musk wants more. The world’s richest man has already requested the authority for more than 42,000 in the coming years for his satellite network.
Global connectivity
Starlink is receiving its mission. Its huge herd of metal bodies equipped with antennas and solar panels has often become the only way to reach the Internet in areas warNatural destruction and remote areas where submarine cable optical fiberNeither telecom towers nor antennas WifiIts services are cheaper than traditional suppliers in some cases, available in more than a hundred countries, According to your own figuresMost of them are in North America, Europe and Latin America. With that strategyMusk and his team are also managing to expand connectivity to the network in Africa.
This success is possible, because unlike the first satellites using the Internet, the Starlink does not exceed 30,000 kilometers from the planet’s surface, but up to a maximum of 2,000. Those sophisticated gadgets are included in the ‘low terrestrial class’ – just as International Space Station Or space telescope Hubble-, a distance that allows the delay to reduce, takes time to send and return a signal, and extends the network to a low cost. Other global operators Heroic, Telicat One of the two Oneb -But also emerging companies such as Catalan Satelliat– They have followed the same stages and launched their own satellite constellations.
Accumulation of power
Despite these achievements, all types of experts are concerned with the growing effect of Starlink. On the one hand, this suspicion is due to the accumulation of the power of the musk, the US President converted to the right hand, Donald TrumpMore than half of the low -class satellites that connect the planet to the network are owned by SpaceX, a strong control, which has already caused several controversies, as an entrepreneur in the hands of a character. In 2023, Musk’s authorized biography revealed that he stopped Ukraine Use Starlink Services to Torpedo Navy Fleet Russia In Crimea, thus angered the kiev.
Extending global connectivity also has a deep face. A Investigation magazine Wire He highlighted on Thursday that the company provides internet to criminal groups in Myanmar, which slaves thousands of people to force thousands of people to end telephone scams and have ignored the US prosecutor requests to block their reach to the network.
Astronomy problems
Starlink is a clear business success, but also a problem for astronomy. The scientific community has over the years that satellites deployed by this and other companies – which will reach half million equipment at the end of this decade – not only harm the universe from the Earth, but also the space telescopes. In 2021, images captured by 5.9% Hubble They were damaged by light that they reflect from low classroom, according to A searchSince then, Starlink’s satellite population has shot 271%. Even for more INRI, Emit radio waves Whose “noise” threatens to deteriorate to catch the exterior location and weather forecasts. For current rhythm, it is possible that in the next decade we look at more satellites than stars.
