A news about the failure of more than 40 satellites launched by the Us SpaceX satellite launched by the Us SpaceX Company (SpaceX) caused the failure of more than 40 satellites that have been launched, which has made the "Starlink Project" once again the focus of people's attention.
So what exactly is the "Starlink Project"? What is its impact on China and the world?
First, Musk's Starlink plan
Some readers and friends may be unfamiliar with the name of the American Space Exploration Technology Company, but if Musk is mentioned, I believe that everyone is familiar with it.
Space Exploration Technology was founded by Musk in 2002, and although the company has not been established for a long time, its development speed and its influence have risen rapidly.
The Starlink Project is a project approved by the American Space Exploration Technology Corporation in 2015. According to Space Exploration Technologies, they plan to launch 12,000 satellites over a five-year period from 2019 to 2024 to establish a "Starlink" network to provide internet services.
According to the latest news, the company plans to add 30,000 satellites. So how is the plan going today?
On February 22, 2018, the American Space Exploration Technology Company successfully launched a rocket, which carried two small experimental communication WeChat, and the Starlink program officially began.
The first batch of 60 Starlink satellites entered space in May 2019; the second batch of 60 Starlink satellites was launched in November of the same year; and the third batch of 60 Starlink satellites was launched in January 2020.
In 2020, there were 6 rocket launches, each carrying 60 starlink satellites. According to the data, as of January 2022, the US Space Exploration Technology Company has successfully launched 2,000 Starlink satellites. This data is quite amazing.
Such frequent launches and such a large number of satellites have also caused concerns in countries around the world.
Second, the impact of the Starlink program
In the impression of many people, space is a pure, beautiful space full of infinite possibilities.
However, in the case of human development needs and increased desire for space exploration, in 1957 the Soviet Union launched the first artificial satellite and officially began the exploration of space
Since then, countries around the world have entered the unknown territory of space, and there are now about 5,000 satellites above the earth.
This data does not include the number of satellites that have been scrapped and have failed to function properly, which shows that the sky above the earth is now crowded.
Musk's Space Exploration Technology Company may have designed this plan with his own original intentions, but now the impact of this plan on the world is very serious.
Next, we mainly analyze the "threat" brought by the Starlink program, the impact of the Starlink program on the aviation undertakings of all countries in the world, and the pollution of space by the Starlink program.
1. Is the Starlink Project purported?
There is a lot of speculation about the motivation of the StarLink project, but according to Musk, it is naturally for the well-being of mankind to provide network services to remote people around the world.
However, we found that NASA provided a lot of talent for the American Space Exploration Technology Company, and there were many advanced technologies.
For example, the rocket it used to implement the Starlink program, Falcon 9, is a technology provided by the National Space Agency.
In this way, the US Space Exploration Technology Company can develop into such a strong growth in just 20 years, and nasa is indispensable.
So is this Starlink project as simple as Musk said?
Besides, communication technology on the ground is developing so fast and mature, why should Musk spend a lot of money and time exploring an immature technology?
2. "Occupy" space!
In fact, the space field is a field that lacks management, it is no better than the ground or the sea, and it has clear ownership and management regulations.
We can liken space to an undeveloped land with rules that are "first come, first served."
Under this rule, we can understand it this way – whoever has the greater number of satellites, the more "land" they have.
The method of occupying the "land" of space is actually to launch satellites, because according to the provisions of the International Telecommunication Union: the number of satellites that can operate in each orbit is limited, and the spectrum resources, that is, the frequency that each satellite can choose (satellite frequency: space radio part, used for satellite information perception, transmission, etc.) are also certain. And to apply to the International Telecommunication Union 2-5 years in advance for orbital resources and satellite channels, if the Us Space Exploration Technology Company has applied for 42,000 orbital positions and satellite channels.
Then other countries' artificial satellites need to communicate with the United States Space Exploration Technology Company before launching.
One is that the U.S. Space Exploration Technology Company owns a lot of "land" that a country may need to buy at a high price if it wants a certain location or frequency. Second, the launch of artificial satellites is affected by many factors, in addition to objective factors such as the natural environment, the operation of other existing satellites will also have a great impact.
If it is blocked by the satellites of the Starlink, then the timing of the launch may also depend on Musk's "face", which is determined by him.
3. Space "touching porcelain"
In addition to the above-mentioned concerns about space and satellite launches, there is now a more realistic problem facing countries, that is, the "threat" posed by so many starlink satellites to the satellites that countries have already launched.
Using loopholes in existing rules, Space Exploration Technologies is constantly squeezing space with satellites already sent by other countries. There have been a number of space "accidents" that have nearly occurred since launch.
Naturally, China is inevitably affected by it.
4. Pollution caused by Starlink satellites
Another problem that cannot be ignored is the pollution caused by the launch of so many satellites by the American Space Exploration Technology Company.
Many astronomers and astronomers are very troubled by this problem, because many of the starlink satellites are in low-Earth orbit, resulting in great light pollution and orbital traces, which greatly affect their observation of space.
At the same time, it will also become space junk after the starlink satellite is scrapped.
And it seems that starlink satellites are more likely to be damaged than other expensive artificial satellites. For example, 3 of the early launches of the Starlink satellites have lost contact with the ground, and 40 satellites have recently failed. This has also caused great damage to the space environment.
summary
Today, countries around the world have recognized the importance of space and have seized space territory. But at the same time, it has also brought great damage to the space environment.
Whatever the purpose of each country, everyone should launch satellites under the premise of harmonious and sustainable development.
It should not be as radical as the American Space Exploration Technology Company to "occupy" space.
What do you think of Musk's StarLink project?
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