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Airtel partners with SpaceX to bring Starlink’s satellite internet to India

Soumyakanti — Tue, 11 Mar 2025 16:12:51 +0000

India’s internet landscape is on the cusp of a significant transformation as Airtel and SpaceX forge a new alliance to introduce Starlink’s satellite internet services to one of the world’s most populous nations. This landmark agreement, announced today, is a major step toward bridging India’s digital divide, particularly in underserved and rural regions.

A Groundbreaking Partnership for Connectivity

The deal, however, hinges on SpaceX securing regulatory approval to operate Starlink commercially in India. Once cleared, this partnership will leverage Airtel’s extensive market reach and Starlink’s cutting-edge low-earth orbit (LEO) satellite technology to provide seamless broadband access across the country. It’s a move that could redefine how India’s remote villages, businesses, and essential services like schools and healthcare centers connect to the digital world.

The collaboration envisions Airtel selling Starlink hardware through its retail outlets while also making enterprise-grade satellite connectivity available to business clients. The implications are far-reaching, imagine a scenario where businesses in remote Himalayan towns or deep within the Thar Desert can finally access stable, high-speed internet without relying on patchy terrestrial networks.

This move isn’t Airtel’s first foray into satellite internet. The telecom giant already has an established partnership with Eutelsat OneWeb, another LEO satellite provider. But adding Starlink into the mix supercharges its ambition to dominate the satellite broadband space, offering customers unprecedented coverage and redundancy. With a combination of fiber, terrestrial mobile networks, and now multiple satellite internet providers, Airtel is positioning itself as the most versatile connectivity provider in India.

For SpaceX, cracking the Indian market is a long-awaited breakthrough. India’s sheer geographical and infrastructural challenges make it the perfect proving ground for Starlink’s satellite-powered broadband. With Airtel’s deep understanding of local telecom regulations, consumer behaviors, and distribution channels, SpaceX gets a crucial foothold in a country where connectivity gaps still persist.

If the partnership overcomes regulatory hurdles, Starlink could become a game-changer in India’s telecom space, delivering high-speed internet to areas where traditional broadband has failed.

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iPhones to Get Starlink Satellite Connectivity? New Leak Sparks SpaceX & Apple Partnership Rumors

Sean — Wed, 29 Jan 2025 13:29:46 +0000

Back in 2022, Apple unveiled the iPhone 14 series with support for the life-saving satellite connectivity feature. This has since become a staple for iPhones, returning on the iPhone 15 and iPhone 16 lineup as well. It seems like Apple is now working on improving this technology with a secret partnership with SpaceX and T-Mobile.

Apple joins hands with SpaceX & T-Mobile for Starlink connectivity for iPhones

A new Bloomberg report claimed that the Cupertino based giant has been working with SpaceX and T-Mobile in secret to bring Starling satellite connectivity to the iPhones. This likely takes advantage of the partnership between T-Mobile and SpaceX that was also announced back in 2022. The report further adds that T-Mobile has already begun testing this feature for a limited number of iPhone users.

It is currently in the beta phase so it likely isn’t a polished experience at the moment. However, the feature is currently available to users that are running iPhones with iOS 18.3, which was recently released earlier this week. In an official note for the T-Mobile Starlin beta, the telecom brand stated that “You can now stay connected by texting via satellite from virtually anywhere. To start experiencing coverage beyond, please update to iOS 18.3.”

For those unaware, the carrier had previously stated that Samsung Galaxy phones would be getting Starlink communication support. The collaboration between T-Mobile and Starlink with Apple only supports sending messages via satellite communication. However, there are plans for bringing voice calls and data sometime in the future. In the past, the iPhone maker was rumored to be working with GlobalStart for its satellite connectivity feature on its smartphones. But now, the partnership might be expanding with T-Mobile who claimed that all users will get access to this feature later this year.

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SpaceX Will Launch Starlab Private Space Station into Space with Starship to Fill the Void of ISS

Oğuz Çakır — Thu, 01 Feb 2024 19:07:36 +0000

The International Space Station, the most expensive structure built by humanity, has long served as a space base for astronauts from Earth. However, as technology has transformed the space race into a competition beyond a few countries, the number of people with the potential to use this station is increased. For this and other reasons, the search for alternatives has already begun. For example, despite being one of the architects of the ISS, Russia is developing its own space station. Meanwhile, SpaceX plans to launch the Starlab private space station with Starship ahead of others. Here are the details…

Introducing Starlab, the Next Frontier in Private Space Stations

The ISS is expected to be replaced by private space stations around 2030. The first one, Starlab, is set to launch by 2028. Developed by Voyager Space and Airbus, Starlab is a private space station measuring 20 meters in length and 10 meters in width, consisting of two modules. The main module will house the crew’s living and working space, while the additional module will be utilized for scientific research and commercial activities.

Elon Musk’s SpaceX will undertake the mission to send the station into space. Starlab will be launched into orbit when the Starship rocket is ready. Many see Starlab as a significant step for space tourism and private space research. As you know, SpaceX has the capability to send almost anyone who can afford it into space. However, there is currently no space beyond the ISS where these individuals can spend time. Starlab has the potential to change this by creating a new commercial space activity.

Voyager CEO Dylan Thomas explained that launching Starlab in a single mission was always the plan. Starship, currently the only heavy-lift rocket in development, can accommodate the station’s 8-meter diameter in one go. Taylor emphasized that launching in one mission reduces on-orbit risks, avoiding the high costs and execution risks associated with assembling hardware on orbit for stations requiring multiple launches

Starlink WiFi 6 router in the works, visits FCC and IMDA certification

Sean — Thu, 01 Feb 2024 09:28:41 +0000

Following its innovative “cellphone tower in space” announcement, Elon Musk’s Starlink is now working on something more grounded. While the company has its expertise in satellite communication and internet connectivity, it might be launching a new WiFi 6 router soon. So here are all the details.

Starlink WiFi 6 Router certified on FCC and IMDA

SpaceX’s Starlink is apparently working on a new WiFi 6 router, which was spotted on the IMDA and FCC database. The IMDA certification revealed that it carries the UTR-232 model number and was listed as a low power WLAN device. On the other hand, the FCC listing confirmed that it will utilize the same wireless bands as other WiFi 6 routers.

It also adds that the upcoming router features two built in LAN ports and will house two power adapters, namely UTP-231L and UTP-232C. The UTR-232 Wi-Fi 6 router is likely a finalized version of the UTR-231 Wi-Fi 6 router, which is a Gen 3 mesh router. To recall, the UTR-231 is expected to be an accessory for existing Starlink customers to boost their connectivity with Starlink’s coverage.

In the past, Starlink’s dish came bundled with the Gen 1 and Gen 2 WiFi routers that only supported the WiFi 5 standard. The upcoming Gen 3 mesh router supporting WiFi 6 means that users can expect much faster broadband speeds. Apart from this, users also gain access to faster broadband speeds, improved energy efficiency on mobile phone devices, and lesser bandwidth congestion. This is all the information we have at the moment, so stay tuned for more updates.

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OpenAI navigates $100 Billion funding talks, amidst leadership turbulence

Joane — Mon, 25 Dec 2023 08:36:54 +0000

OpenAI, is reportedly in the early stages of discussions to secure a new funding round, targeting a valuation of $100 billion or more, according to sources close to the matter, as reported by Bloomberg News.

The potential funding round, which is still in flux regarding specifics such as terms and timing, could propel OpenAI to become the second-most valuable startup in the United States, following in the footsteps of SpaceX, the aerospace giant led by Elon Musk.

OpenAI is concurrently finalizing a separate tender offer set to conclude in January, allowing employees to trade their shares at a valuation of $86 billion. Thrive Capital is at the forefront of leading this tender offer, and the demand among investors is reportedly robust, reflecting the company’s escalating prominence.

Notably, Microsoft, a longstanding supporter of OpenAI, has committed to investing over $10 billion in the company, solidifying its position as a key backer. The infusion of funds from Microsoft came on the heels of OpenAI’s game-changing release of ChatGPT a year ago, which triggered an unprecedented surge in interest and investments in generative AI.

The landscape in which OpenAI operates is intensifying, with major tech players like Amazon, Google (Anthropic), Salesforce (Hugging Face), and Nvidia making substantial strides in AI-related ventures.

In a bid to further assert its dominance in the AI arena, OpenAI is exploring a chip venture named Tigris, aiming to produce semiconductors that would compete with Nvidia, the current market leader. Discussions regarding funding for Tigris involve a substantial investment ranging from $8 billion to $10 billion, with G42, an Abu Dhabi-based entity, showing keen interest.

OpenAI faced a momentary leadership crisis recently when CEO Sam Altman was unexpectedly removed from his position. The subsequent reinstatement of Altman after a brief period of upheaval is coupled with the appointment of a new board, signaling a commitment to stability and a refocus on product development.

As OpenAI navigates these intricate funding talks and a rapidly evolving industry landscape, the company’s valuation surge mirrors the heightened interest and investments in AI technologies. The profound impact of ChatGPT in reshaping perceptions of AI’s potential underscores OpenAI’s pivotal role in driving the industry forward. Neither Microsoft nor OpenAI has provided official comments in response to recent queries.

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US Space Force contracts SpaceX for Starshield satellite communications

Sean — Mon, 02 Oct 2023 09:07:12 +0000

Elon Musk’s SpaceX has been contracted by the US Space Force. The company has received the 70 million US Dollar contract to provide satellite communications using its new Starshield program. So here’s everything you need to know about this deal.

SpaceX Starshield: What’s it all about?

Starshield is basically SpaceX repurposing its Starlink network of satellites to offer functionality for the US military. As per official notes, it is a “secured satellite network for government entities”. The contract has a duration of one year. According to a US Space Force spokesperson, “The SpaceX contract provides for Starshield end-to-end service (via the Starlink constellation), user terminals, ancillary equipment, network management and other related services.”

During the initial stages of the contract, the Space Force will pay SpaceX a sum of 15 million US Dollars, which will have the latter offer 54 military “mission partners” across Department of Defence (DoD) branches. Interestingly enough, this news soon after US senators criticized SpaceX’s actions in Ukraine. It was recently revealed that Elon Musk refused to extend Starlink coverage to allow for a naval attack against Russian forces.

The senators expressed their dismay at his actions saying that “We are deeply concerned with the ability and willingness of SpaceX to interrupt their service at Mr. Musk’s whim”. Elon Musk shot back stating that “Starlink needs to be a civilian network, not a participant to combat. Starshield will be owned by the US government and controlled by DoD Space Force.”

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Elon Musk’s SpaceX to Launch Satellite for Apple’s Emergency SOS Feature

Rajesh Regmi — Sat, 02 Sep 2023 09:36:54 +0000

Apple introduced the Emergency SOS service via satellite on its iPhone 14 series last year. This feature is likely to be available on the upcoming iPhone 15 series, which is scheduled to launch on September 12. Just days before the launch, a new report revealed that Apple is working to improve satellite connectivity on its iPhones. Reportedly, Apple and its satellite partner, Globalstar, are working with SpaceX to launch new satellites that will improve the Emergency SOS via the Satellite feature on iPhones.

SpaceX and Globalstar to launch satellite for Apple’s Emergency SOS

As a part of the deal, Globalstar will pay SpaceX $64 million to launch new satellites that will enhance the communication network for this feature. The payments will be made in installments over time, starting now and ending in 2025, when the satellites are expected to be launched into space.

The Emergency SOS via Satellite feature was introduced by Apple last year with the iPhone 14 models. This technology allows iPhone users to contact emergency services even when they are not within cellular or Wi-Fi range.

When Apple launched the iPhone 14 series, they said that the Emergency SOS via Satellite feature would be free for the first two years. After that, users would have to pay a fee to use it. Apple has not yet released any details about how much the fee will be, but with all the expenditures Apple is making to improve its reliability, it is now logical to assume that Apple will charge a small fee to use the SOS option.

Moreover, Globalstar has agreed to allocate 85% of its current and future network capacity to Apple’s iPhones. They will also provide and maintain all personnel, software, satellite systems, and more while maintaining minimum quality and coverage standards.

This is not the first time both these companies are working together. In 2022, Apple invested $450 million in developing the critical infrastructure that supports Emergency SOS via satellite for iPhone 14 models. The majority of this funding went to Globalstar. Likewise, last year, Globalstar purchased satellite equipment worth $327 million from a Canadian company. Apple lent Globalstar $252 million to help with this purchase.

Emergency SOS via satellite is available in these countries: the United States, Canada, France, Germany, Ireland, the United Kingdom, Austria, Belgium, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Australia, New Zealand, and Portugal.

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Space Travel Just Got Easier: SpaceX is Setting Up a Commercial Space Station

Oğuz Çakır — Mon, 15 May 2023 22:19:02 +0000

Last month, SpaceX embarked on a mission to set a new world record. Now, the company is gearing up to construct the world’s first-ever commercial space station. In partnership with Vast, a Los Angeles-based company, SpaceX is poised to revolutionize space travel and habitation. Here are the details…

SpaceX Aims to Build the World’s First Commercial Space Station

The International Space Station (ISS) is nearing the end of its operational life. Stepping up to this challenge, SpaceX and Vast have publicized their ambitious plan to launch the first-ever commercial space station. By as early as August 2025, SpaceX intends to use its reliable Falcon 9 rocket to launch the station’s primary module, Haven-1, into low Earth orbit.

Soon after the launch of Haven-1, it will be joined by a larger module, named Vast-1. This will be followed by a SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft carrying a team of four astronauts. This team is expected to live and work on the main station for about a month before making their return journey to Earth aboard the Crew Dragon capsule.

Tom Ochinero, a SpaceX executive, voiced his enthusiasm for the project. “We’re using a commercial rocket to launch a commercial spacecraft, housing commercial astronauts, to a commercial space station. We’re working hand in hand with Vast on this revolutionary project, which we believe represents the future of low Earth orbit,” he stated.

Vast, established in 2021 as a pioneer in space settlement technologies, plans to sell all four seats on the maiden voyage. The company anticipates a diverse clientele, ranging from individuals affiliated with local and international space agency projects to private investors. However, the pricing details for this venture have yet to be disclosed.

In preparation for the mission, SpaceX will train the four crew members for the Crew Dragon flight aboard Falcon 9, as well as for their subsequent return journey inside the spacecraft. With the decommissioning of the ISS scheduled for 2031, private enterprises like SpaceX are stepping up, planning to launch their own stations to ensure the continuity of human life and work in low Earth orbit.

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From X AE A-XII to Twitter Deal: Elon Musk on Display at Museum of Failure

Anubhav — Tue, 02 May 2023 06:17:24 +0000

Failure is not something most people like to dwell on, but in Sweden, a psychologist by the name of Dr. Samuel West has founded a museum dedicated to it. The Museum of Failure showcases a curated collection of past mistakes to illustrate that innovation is a high-risk business. The museum’s current exhibit, on tour in Brooklyn, New York, includes lessons from Elon Musk, the famous Tesla and SpaceX CEO.

Elon Musk has seen a fair share of Failures in his Career

Musk has earned his place in the Museum of Failure with 14 lessons from his failures, including his two children’s unusual names, X AE A-XII and Exa Dark Sideræl, and a failed attempt to walk away from a deal to buy Twitter for $44 billion. Musk’s other failures cited in the exhibit include Tesla and SpaceX almost going bankrupt in 2008, falsely tweeting about Tesla’s privatization, and being recognized by the Guinness World Records for “the largest personal property loss in history.”

The exhibit also showcases some of Musk’s successes, including accomplishments at Tesla and SpaceX, and his previous title as the world’s richest man. At the end of 2022, Tesla’s stock price plummeted, and Musk lost his status as the world’s richest man for the first time, being replaced by Louis Vuitton CEO Bernard Arnault. Musk is currently the second richest man in the world.

The exhibit raises some thought-provoking questions about innovation, failure, and success. The museum’s display challenges visitors to look at Musk’s legacy and decide for themselves whether he has failed or succeeded. “Musk has been one of, if not the most polarizing, figures of the past decade, and his status has been hotly debated,” the exhibit states. “It is true that Tesla revolutionized the electric car industry, but Musk didn’t actually create the technology. He invested smartly. Does investing in bold ventures count as innovation?”

Musk himself sees failure differently. He does not view failure as a downer but as a necessary path for companies to prosper. “If things aren’t failing, you’re not innovating enough,” he said in a 2012 speech in London.

The Museum of Failure’s exhibit on Elon Musk shows that even the world’s most successful entrepreneurs make mistakes. By highlighting these failures, the museum aims to show that failure is not the end of the road, but rather a stepping stone to success. Visitors to the exhibit can learn from Musk’s mistakes and be inspired to take risks and innovate in their own lives and businesses.

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Elon Musk Sheds Light on the Starship Explosion from Last Week

Anubhav — Mon, 01 May 2023 05:48:23 +0000

The recent SpaceX Starship explosion may have been a setback, but CEO Elon Musk sees it as a success. During a recent Twitter voice chat, Musk provided a detailed analysis of what went wrong during the rocket’s first test flight, revealing new information about the challenges the company faced.

Multiple Engines got damaged 27 seconds after the Launch

According to Musk, three of the 33 engines on the Starship booster failed to function properly before the launch. Despite this setback, the rocket continued to take off. However, 27 seconds after the launch, one of the engines failed and damaged several others in the process. This caused the rocket to lose its ability to steer itself properly.

As a result, the Starship began to spin out of control and failed to respond to the termination command. This delay was due to the resilience of the rocket, which survived the fall intact.

While the launch didn’t go as planned, Musk believes that it was still a success, as the company learned a lot from the test flight. He also revealed that SpaceX plans to conduct more test flights this year, with the goal of improving the rocket’s performance.

However, the next launch may still face some challenges. The US Federal Aviation Administration is currently investigating the explosion, and SpaceX must make changes to the rocket before the next flight can be approved.

Despite these setbacks, Musk remains optimistic about the future of the Starship. He expects that the company will launch four or five more rockets this year, with an 80% chance of reaching orbit. And while he acknowledges that there are risks involved, he believes that the company has a close to 100% chance of reaching orbit within the next 12 months.

To achieve this goal, SpaceX plans to spend around $2 billion on the Starship this year, but Musk believes that this investment is worth it. He sees the Starship as a crucial part of the company’s efforts to make space travel more accessible, and he is committed to making it work.

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SpaceX’s Starship Test Flight: A Rocky Start to a Promising Future

Anubhav — Fri, 21 Apr 2023 05:46:38 +0000

SpaceX is a private American aerospace company founded in 2002 by entrepreneur Elon Musk. The company’s goal is to reduce space transportation costs and enable the colonization of Mars. SpaceX has achieved many milestones in space exploration, including the first privately-funded liquid-propellant rocket to reach orbit, the first privately-funded spacecraft to visit the International Space Station (ISS), and the first privately-funded reusable rocket, the Falcon 9, which has become the backbone of the company’s launch capabilities. SpaceX has also been developing the Starship spacecraft, which is intended to carry people and cargo to the Moon, Mars, and beyond. The first launch for the Starship took place yesterday, and apart from the rocket blowing up, the launch was a success for the company.

Starship Explosion Wasn’t A Total Loss, Useful Data Gained

Though the flight did not go as planned, with the Starship failing to separate from the Super Heavy booster and exploding, CEO Elon Musk had previously warned enthusiasts to lower their expectations. The primary objective was to clear the launchpad, with any further progress deemed a bonus. Starship and Super Heavy together are taller than the Saturn V rocket and have 39 total Raptor engines, which are powerful enough to carry payloads of up to 330,000lbs to low Earth orbit when fully reusable and 550,000lbs when expendable. The new rocketry allows for missions that were previously impossible, including eventual trips to the Moon and Mars that require extensive fuel and supplies. Success with the next test is vital for both SpaceX and NASA, with Starship counting on lunar tourism and other commercial flights, while NASA’s Artemis Moon landings depend on the rocket for reaching the surface and returning astronauts to the Orion capsule for the trip home.

The sooner SpaceX can prove Starship’s viability, the better its chances of minimizing further delays, with NASA’s exploration efforts slated to begin in December 2025. Despite the failed test, the future of space exploration still looks promising, with SpaceX and other private companies pushing the boundaries and pioneering a new era of space travel.

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Here’s the Rover that will Accompany SpaceX’s Starship to the Moon

Anubhav — Mon, 03 Apr 2023 03:57:06 +0000

Rovers play a crucial role in future missions to the Moon for several reasons. Firstly, rovers can travel farther and faster than humans and can carry out tasks that would be difficult or impossible for astronauts to perform. This includes exploring rugged and inhospitable terrains, collecting and analyzing samples, and conducting experiments. Secondly, rovers can work autonomously (if required) for extended periods, enabling scientists to gather data and conduct research over a longer duration. Thirdly, rovers can be equipped with sophisticated instruments and sensors to detect and analyze the lunar environment, providing valuable insights into the Moon’s geology, chemistry, and other aspects. Rovers are clearly very essential tools for exploring the Moon and expanding our understanding of our nearest celestial neighbour. Astrolab recently announced that their FLEX Rover will be launched on SpaceX‘s upcoming moon mission.

This mission will transport Astrolab’s FLEX rover using SpaceX’s Starship launch and landing system as early as mid-2026. FLEX is not just a rover, but a logistics system for Moon and Mars missions. It will be the largest and most capable rover to travel to the Moon with a combined mass of over two tons. Astrolab designed FLEX to transport and deploy payloads in a modular system, making it highly versatile and capable of conducting scientific experiments, commercial endeavours, and deploying technology demos on the lunar surface.

The rover can be controlled remotely from the surface of the earth, however, it serves as a hybrid model for astronauts on the surface of the moon. The FLEX Rover can also serve as an unpressurized rover for a crew of two astronauts. The company plans to establish a permanent human presence on the Moon and eventually Mars by creating a fleet of FLEX rovers. Jaret Matthews, Founder and CEO of Astrolab, expressed his excitement for the contract with SpaceX, which will allow Astrolab to demonstrate the advantages of FLEX and its modular payload system. SpaceX’s Senior Vice President, Tom Ochinero, said Starship is designed to transport large amounts of cargo, including rovers, to the Moon and Mars for research and exploration.

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SpaceX vs Amazon: The Battle for Space Internet Dominance Heats Up

Oğuz Çakır — Wed, 15 Mar 2023 16:52:47 +0000

Amazon is gearing up to launch its first internet satellites in the first half of 2024, joining the likes of SpaceX in the race to provide broadband internet services globally. The company’s satellite internet unit, Project Kuiper, plans to manufacture its first satellites later this year, with a total of over 3,000 satellites to be launched in low-Earth orbit in the coming years. Here are the details…

Amazon targets 2024 launch of first Kuiper internet satellites

Amazon aims to test the satellites with commercial customers in 2024 and produce “three to five” satellites a day to meet regulatory demands to launch half its Kuiper network by 2026. With over $10 billion invested in the Kuiper network, Amazon’s expertise in consumer electronics gives it an edge over competitors like SpaceX, which already has roughly 4,000 satellites in space. Amazon plans to launch a pair of prototype satellites in 2023, followed by the deployment of the initial production satellites in 2024 using rockets procured in recent years.

This move by Amazon could provide high-speed internet to areas with little or no connectivity, improving access to education, business, and personal communication. While Amazon’s plans to launch its own satellite internet network is an exciting development, it also raises concerns about the potential for space debris.

With thousands of satellites planned to be launched, experts have warned about the increased risk of collisions and the creation of space junk that could pose a threat to other spacecraft and even astronauts. As such, it will be important for Amazon and other companies to prioritize responsible space practices and work with regulatory bodies to mitigate these risks and ensure the sustainability of space activities.

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SpaceX Starship Launch Vehicle will conduct a Full Static Fire Test

Joane — Thu, 09 Feb 2023 20:08:04 +0000

SpaceX President and COO Gwynne Shotwell, has announced that the company is all set to conduct a full static fire test on its Starship Launch Vehicle. The test will happen on 9 February and will be the first attempt at the static-fire test of all 33 engines in the Starship booster.

The Static fire test is one of the most essential parts of the final stage of technical tests conducted on the starship and is the last ground test to be conducted on the heavy-lift launch vehicle.

source: SpaceX

What is Static Fire Test?

A static fire test is a type of launch vehicle system test that helps to assess the readiness of the vehicle to reach orbit. In this test, the launch vehicle engines are filled with fuel and fired at full thrust. The vehicle is secured to the launch pad and only the engines are tested at their full capacity while the launch vehicle is clamped to the pad.

The SpaceX Starship is a launch vehicle designed to carry people and cargo to Moon, Mars, and beyond. The vehicle has a first-stage massive booster called Super Heavy and a 165-foot tall second-stage spacecraft named Starship.

The Super Heavy booster will be powered by 33 raptor engines which will be tested today at full capacity. This is a new milestone for SpaceX as it has never ignited more than 14 of its raptor engines simultaneously.

The Raptor is a group of staged combustion cycle engines, specially designed by SpaceX for Starship. The engines are fueled by cryogenic liquid methane and liquid oxygen and are more powerful than the Merlin 1D rocket engines, used in the Falcon Heavy Launch Vehicles.

Today’s static fire test is another step toward SpaceX CEO Elon Musks‘ goal of sending humans to Mars and building an interplanetary civilization. On successful completion of the static fire test, the company can get the launch license from the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration and send Starship to Orbit as early as next month.

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SpaceX Plans to Allow Direct Connections to Starlink for Smartphones

Oğuz Çakır — Thu, 15 Dec 2022 08:03:55 +0000

Starlink is a satellite-based internet service developed by SpaceX that aims to provide high-speed internet access to remote and underserved areas. The network consists of a constellation of small, low-Earth orbit satellites that work together to provide broadband internet access. As of September 2022, the constellation consists of over 3,000 satellites, with plans to deploy nearly 12,000 in total. The service has over 500,000 subscribers as of June 2022, but Elon Musk wants more. Apparently, SpaceX is working on allowing users to connect their smartphones directly to the Starlink network.

SpaceX’s Starlink: Revolutionizing smartphone connectivity with direct satellite connections

In order to use SpaceX’s Starlink, a user needs to have certain equipment, such as an antenna and receiver. However, SpaceX is working on technology that will allow users to connect their smartphones directly to the Starlink network, eliminating the need for specialized equipment. This will make it easier for users to access high-speed internet from space and take advantage of Starlink’s capabilities.

SpaceX has filed an application with the US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to equip some of its second-generation Starlink satellites with “direct-to-cellular” hardware. This will allow users to connect their smartphones directly to the Starlink network, providing them with high-speed internet access from space.

SpaceX has already launched 3,500 first-generation Starlink satellites, and has received approval from the FCC to launch 7,500 more “Gen2” satellites before the end of the decade. With the new “direct-to-cellular” hardware, the company hopes to provide voice, messaging, and basic web browsing services to users with theoretical peak speeds of up to 18.3 Mbps on the downlink.

The application is a key step towards SpaceX’s goal of offering service for smartphones via T-Mobile. In August, the company announced plans to connect the two data networks in an effort to eradicate mobile dead zones in the US.

Other companies, such as Texas-based AST SpaceMobile, are also working on offering space-based mobile broadband services. However, SpaceX’s large constellation of satellites and its partnership with T-Mobile give it a significant advantage in the race to provide reliable internet access from space. If all goes according to plan, SpaceX could offer “full and continuous” smartphone coverage with 2,000 equipped Gen2 satellites as soon as 2024.

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SpaceX Buys Massive Ad Campaign Package on Twitter for Starlink

Sean — Mon, 14 Nov 2022 08:59:32 +0000

SpaceX has just placed a massive order for an advertisement package on Twitter. This ad campaign from Elon Musk’s aerospace based company will be run for the company’s Starlink, satellite internet connectivity based brand.

Interestingly, Elon Musk had also recently acquired the popular microblogging website for a 44 billion US Dollars deal. Now, the billionaire’s aerospace company is buying an ad campaign on Twitter in Spain and Australia. These large ad packages were bought to promote the company’s satellite based internet brand called Starlink. This ad campaign is apparently called “takeover” and will be promoted on Twitter in the two regions. According to a CNBC report, purchasing one of these advertisement packages will cost one a massive sum of 250,000 US Dollars or more.

Furthermore, it would also offer buyers the right to put their brand name on top of the main Twitter timeline for one whole day. This news arrives from one current and former Twitter employee that wished to stay anonymous. So now, Twitter users can expect to see the Starlink brand ad for the first three times that they open the application on the day or even on days of the planned takeover campaign. But this is still limited to just Australia and Spain.

For those unaware, Starlink is an internet service provider that offers connectivity through a constellation of satellites that beam internet down to paying subscribers. SpaceX developed Starlink with the aim of offering high speed internet connectivity to people in remote regions that suffer from poor internet due to a lack of cable or optic fiber infrastructure.

Starlink sets data cap at 1TB per month for high-speed internet usage

Jeet — Tue, 08 Nov 2022 05:27:22 +0000

Starlink, the SpaceX-run satellite internet provider, has announced that the company will be introducing a data cap for internet usage for all of its customers in the United States and Canada, which will go into effect in December this year.

The introduction of the data cap is a shift from the company’s previous stance of providing unlimited data without any strings attached. With this change, the company joins the list of other internet service providers that have soft limits on internet usage.

The company will offer 1TB “Priority Access” monthly cap for data usage between 7 AM and 11 PM starting in December 2022. Once the user crosses the data limit, the speed will be decreased to “Basic Access.” This is similar to what some of the phone network carriers do to deprioritize data when the network is busy. The regular user with typical usage may not notice any major difference in terms of usage, but those users who depend on sustained performance may not be happy with this new policy.

Internet usage can become quite expensive if the user wants to continue having Priority Access beyond 1TB, as the user will need to pay 25 cents per GB of data. This means that the user needs to spend another $250 to get an additional 1TB of data. With those numbers, it would be cheaper to get another connection if the cost of an additional terminal isn’t an issue.

Also, users of RV, Portability, and “Best Effort” don’t have any Priority Access. Fixed business service has peak-hour caps that range from 500GB to 3TB, and any additional data will cost $1 per gigabyte. Mobility users don’t get any Priority Access, while Premium/Maritime users have a data cap of 1TB and 5TB, respectively, and will have to pay $2 per gigabyte of additional data.

Say Goobye to “No Cell Service”, SpaceX Announces Industry-Changing Starlink V2 Satellites

Leo Wong De Quan — Fri, 26 Aug 2022 08:44:28 +0000

If you were to ever wander into the deep woods or traveled to the middle of an ocean, chances are that you will have no cellular signal, meaning you can’t access the Internet and you can’t make calls unless you have a satellite communicator with you. And the main reason for the lack of cellular signals in places like the forest and the ocean is because telecommunications providers don’t have cell towers built in the area to provide you cell service to access the Internet or to make calls.

However, in 2022, technology has matured far enough that humans have finally found a solution to tackle the problem of providing cell service even in remote places that were previously unreachable by traditional cell signals.

Source: T-Mobile

In a live event today, US telecommunications provider, T-Mobile alongside the globally renowned aerospace company, SpaceX, introduced Starlink V2, the satellites that can directly transmit cell signals to mobile phones and Tesla cars from space.

The announcement today was mainly focused on Starlink V2’s implementation in the US with telecommunications provider T-Mobile. Under the new plan which they dubbed Coverage Above and Beyond, both companies will establish a new network using T-Mobile’s existing mid-band spectrum across the United States.

The main advantage of using an existing spectrum is that the majority of smartphones on its existing network will be able to connect to the new network without any need for new equipment.

Leveraging on SpaceX’s Starlink V2 satellites, the new network aims to eliminate cellular dead zones across the country. Whether it be from the middle of Death Valley to the Great Smokey Mountains, the newly established network aims to provide cell phone connectivity every time, everywhere.

Chief Engineer of SpaceX, Elon Musk says that for the new network, the deployment of Starlink V2 satellites will work great for texting and voice calls but not for usages that require high bandwidth. This is mainly because each cell zone under the new network can only deliver 2 to 4Mbps.

Although SpaceX’s Starlink V2 technology is only currently implemented in the USA, both SpaceX and T-Mobile shared their vision for expanding Coverage Above and Beyond globally, issuing an open invitation to the world’s carriers to collaborate for truly global connectivity. And in a tweet posted by SpaceX CEO himself, Elon Musk, the man hopes to be able to eliminate cellular dead zones once and for all, worldwide.

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(Source 1, Source 2)

The post Say Goobye to “No Cell Service”, SpaceX Announces Industry-Changing Starlink V2 Satellites appeared first on Gizmochina.

Elon Musk warns that SpaceX’s Starlink system may be targeted in Ukraine

Sean — Fri, 04 Mar 2022 08:32:30 +0000

Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, has shared a warning that there is a high change for its Starlink satellite broadband system to be “targeted” in Ukraine that has been facing an ongoing crisis due to the Russian invasion.

The warning from the executive arrives after an internet security researched warned that devices that use satellite communications could potentially become “beacons” that Russia could use to target for airstrikes. Thus, Elon Musk tweet read “Important warning: Starlink is the only non Russian communications system still working in some parts of Ukraine, so probability of being targeted is high. Please use with caution.”

Furthermore, he asked users to “turn on Starlink only when needed and place antenna away as far away from people as possible.” He added that users should place “light camouflage over antenna to avoid visual detection.” Last week, the senior SpaceX official announced that the company had activated its services in Ukraine and SpaceX was sending more terminals to the country. This announcement arrived as a response to a Ukraine government official who had requested Musk to provide the nation with additional Starlink stations.

Ukraine Vice Prime Minister Mykhailo Fedorov has since thanked Starlink for “keeping our cities connected and emergency services saving lives!” Although, the government official said that the country needs generators to keep Starlink service online due to Russian attacks on the nation’s infrastructure. This also led Elon Musk to release an update that reduced Starlin’s peak power consumption.

Elon Musk’s Starlink may have lost 40 satellites due to a geomagnetic storm

Sean — Wed, 09 Feb 2022 11:07:16 +0000

Starlink, the internet service provider from Tesla & SpaceX founder Elon Musk, has apparently lost a number of its satellites following a geomagnetic storm, with around 40 being destroyed.

According to an official blog post, the company stated that around 40 of its 49 Starlink satellites that were launched on 3rd February 2022 have been destroyed because of the geomagnetic storm. This storm has caused “up to 50 percent higher drag than during previous launches,” which prevented the newly launched satellites from reaching their optimal orbit around the Earth. Despite Starlink’s best efforts of reducing damages, 40 of the satellites ended up burning up in the Earth’s atmosphere and were unable to reach their proper destination.

For those unaware, SpaceX’s ISP unit had recently announced that it has sent more than 2,000 satellites and had planned to launch over 12,000 more. So while the loss of 40 might not impact the overall figure, it is still quite an expensive loss, with almost all of the Falcon 9 rocket’s payload being destroyed. Interestingly, the company took this chance to also showcase the minute impact that its satellites cause in the skies.

Space debris and clutter has been a growing concern in recent years, with Starlink’s satellites also facing criticism due to plans to launch thousands of satellites. Apart from this, astronomers had also called out the brand for disrupting images of the night sky since these satellite end up leaving streaks across space images. This means that it is harder for astronomers to detect possibly dangerous asteroids.

Elon Musk & SpaceX faces criticism after its satellites nearly crash into Chinese space station

Sean — Tue, 28 Dec 2021 11:09:11 +0000

Elon Musk and SpaceX have recently come under fire from Chinese citizens, with people criticizing the individual and his space faring company online. The latest backlash in China arrives after its satellites nearly crashed into the Chinese space station.

According to a CNBC report, SpaceX and its CEO Elon Musk are being criticized after satellites from Starlink Internet Services had two near misses with the Chinese space station earlier this year. For those unaware, Starlink is an ISP (Internet Service Provider) unit of SpaceX. The news of the near crashes arrives after China recently submitted a document to the UN space agency earlier this month.

In the document published on the website of the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs, China stated that “For safety reasons, the China Space Station implemented preventive collision avoidance control.” Unfortunately, the validity of the claim is yet to be confirmed and SpaceX has yet to respond to this matter publicly. Weibo users (a Chinese microblogging website similar to Twitter) even began criticizing the company, with one calling Starlink’s satellites “just a pile of space junk,” while another called it “American space warfare weapons.”

Over the years, the number of space debris and artificial satellites that are orbiting the Earth has grown. Thus, scientists have urged various governments to share data to reduce the risk of any dangerous accidents caused by potential collisions. As of right now, SpaceX alone has deployed nearly 2,000 satellites for its Starlink internet service. Notably, the latest backlash also arrives as Elon Musk’s Tesla has recently been caught up with a number of issues in China. These range from security risks to lawsuits over false advertising among others.

Starlink registers Indian subsidiary company to launch its internet service

Jeet — Tue, 02 Nov 2021 14:42:05 +0000

Starlink, which is a part of the SpaceX company led by Elon Musk, has registered its business in India as the company is preparing to apply for licenses from the local government for the internet service business.

Sanjay Bhargava, the country director for Starlink in India said: “SpaceX now has a 100 percent owned subsidiary in India. The name is SSCPL – Starlink Satellite Communications Private Limited and the incorporation date is Nov 1, 2021.”

He also confirmed that the company will now start applying for licenses to start its broadband services as it applies for regulatory approval. It intends to start its satellite-based broadband services next year and had taken orders from customers earlier this year.

Initially, the company will be focusing on offering its services in ten rural Lok Sabha constituencies. The company claims the service is “ideally suited” in areas where connectivity is “unreliable or completely unavailable”.

Starlink is planning to offer 200,000 active terminals in over 160,000 districts by December 2022. It remains to be seen if the company is able to achieve that because the track record paints a different picture. As of August this year, the company had shipped 100,000 user terminals in 14 countries.

Sanjay Bhargava, a former PayPal executive, was hired to lead the India division of Starlink in October this year. Apart from him, the company has hired several key executives in India in recent months, including Parnil Urdhwareshe, who was previously overseeing AMD’s policy efforts in India.

For those who are unaware, Starlink is launching small satellites to build a low-Earth orbiting network to provide low-latency broadband internet services. It is aiming to serve rural communities in India and is working with Niti Aayog, an Indian think tank, to identify 12 districts in the country for the company’s initial deployment.

Elon Musk aims on launching a Satellite for Billboard ads in Space

Sean — Fri, 13 Aug 2021 09:04:10 +0000

Elon Musk, the CEO of SpaceX and Tesla, apparently has new plans that would take advertising out of this world, quite literally. Musk will be partnering up with a Canada based startup to launch a satellite that will act as a billboard for advertisements in space.

The billionaire’s latest endeavor will have SpaceX join launch a satellite into low Earth orbit by next year. The company’s team seeks on sending the satellite into space aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, which will enable advertisements to be sent up from Earth. Talking about the satellite itself, it is called CubeSat and will feature a pixelated display screen that will showcase the contents that it receives from Earth.

Geometric Energy Corp, the startup SpaceX is working with, added that apart from just advertisements, the screen can also be used to display logos and even art. Samuel Reid, CEO and Co Founder of GEC also told BusinessInsider that the rocket that will carry CubeSat into orbit will release it before the rocket reaches the moon. While to some it might sound a bit intrusive as looking up at the sky and seeing an ad isn’t really that attractive, you can rest assured considering this space billboard will not be visible from Earth.

Rather than being outright visible, the content on the satellite’s display will be streamed live to various online platforms like YouTube or Twitch via a camera. In other words, a selfie stick will capture and send the contents/advertisements on the satellite to streaming sites. In practice, this means that anyone with access to the internet and such websites can see the satellite’s screen.

Reid further added that “There might be companies that want to depict their logo… or it might end up being a bit more personal and artistic. I’m trying to achieve something that can democratize access to space and allow for decentralized participation. Hopefully, people don’t waste money on something inappropriate, insulting or offensive.”

SpaceX accepts dogecoin as payment to launch its lunar mission

Jeet — Mon, 10 May 2021 06:03:13 +0000

A few months ago, Tesla announced that it invested $1.5 billion in Bitcoin and had also revealed that it would start accepting Bitcoin as payment for buying its cars. Now, another Elon Musk-led company is following the suit.

SpaceX will be launching the “DOGE-1 Mission to the Moon” in the first quarter of next year and the company will be accepting cryptocurrency dogecoin as payment, revealed Elon Musk in a tweet.

The development follows a tweet by Elon Musk in April that SpaceX was going to put a “literal Dogecoin on the literal moon”.

Canadian engineering firm Geometric Energy Corporation has partnered with SpaceX to launch its DOGE-1 CubeSat to the Moon in the first quarter of 2022. The mission will launch aboard a Falcon 9 rocket. The 88-pound CubeSat will collect “lunar-spatial intelligence” through a combination of cameras and sensors, says the company.

In the statement released by Geometric Energy, SpaceX Vice President of Commercial Sales Tom Ochinero said: “This mission will demonstrate the application of cryptocurrency beyond Earth orbit and set the foundation for interplanetary commerce.”

Dogecoin lost more than a third of its price on Sunday after Musk called it a ‘hustle’ during his guest-host spot on the “Saturday Night Live” comedy sketch TV show.

For those who are unaware, the cryptocurrency dogecoin began as a social media joke, and after Musk’s tweets earlier this year, the almost obscure digital currency came back into the market. It has jumped more than 800% over the last month and is now the fourth-largest digital currency, with a market capitalization of $73 billion.

Caviar’s new custom iPhone 12 Pro honors astronauts Gagarin and Armstrong, and space entrepreneurs, Musk and Bezos

Habeeb Onawole — Tue, 20 Apr 2021 02:58:08 +0000

Caviar is celebrating the 60th anniversary of the first manned spaceflight with special editions of the iPhone 12 Pro/iPhone 12 Pro Max that honor astronauts Yuri Gagarin and Neil Armstrong; Russian rocket designer, Sergei Korolev; as well as space entrepreneurs, Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos.

The iPhone 12 Pro/iPhone 12 Pro Max Yuri Gagarin editions have aviation-grade titanium bodies with a navigator watch similar to the one the Russian cosmonaut used to track his time in space. There is also a miniaturized version of the Vostok-K rocket on the back. This version of the iPhone 12 Pro has a starting price of $8,920.

The iPhone 12 Pro/iPhone 12 Pro Max Neil Armstrong Edition ditches the colors of the Yuri Gagarin Edition for a monochrome design. Etched on the back of the phone, which is also made of titanium, is a drawing of the astronaut planting the American flag on the moon. The date of the moon landing is also etched on the phone along with a drawing of earth. This special edition has a piece of the Apollo 11 spacecraft and a starting price of $6450. Caviar will be making only 11 units and each unit will have its number engraved on the side of the phone.

The Korolev version looks gorgeous with its infusion of electroplated 999 gold on the titanium back and around the edge which gives it a unique appearance. Engraved on the back are the date the Sputnik launched and the words “The Father of Practical Astronautics” in block letters. There will be 99 units made and the starting price is $6760.

For the Elon Musk version, which starts at $6610, there is also a touch of gold on the back of the phone. There is a silhouette of the founder of SpaceX along with the planet Mars. Engraved along the ring circling the red planet are the words “The Beginning of Mars Colonization” and the date SpaceX was founded. SpaceX is 19 this year and Caviar will be making that exact number of this special edition.

There is also a custom-made version made for a fan of Elon Musk and SpaceX dubbed “Musk Be on Mars” that has engraved on the back a depiction of the Dragon spacecraft lifting off. This version has a starting price of $6910.

For the Bezos edition, the titanium back has a touch of blue and a silver feather that depicts Blue Origin’s logo. It also has etched on the back “Going To The Moon To Stay” a belief that Jeff Bezos. The date, April 29, 2015, which is the date the New Shepard rocket was first flown is also etched on the back. Caviar will make 99 units of the phone and the starting price is $5840