McMurdo Station, an Antarctic research station, has already received Starlink satellite internet connection from SpaceX. The US National Research Foundation (NSF) tweeted the information this week, along with a picture of the rectangular reception antenna set up for testing.
The new link is a part of tests for a polar service using a new user terminal that has already been placed in the station, according to the NSF’s description in the paper. The new service will boost bandwidth while also improving connectivity for the station’s scientific operations.
SpaceX also acknowledged the accomplishment. Now that Starlink is available on every continent, This capability is provided by the Starlink laser network in a region as distant as Antarctica,” they added in another tweet on Wednesday. The capability is now being tested at SpaceX and allows for high-speed communication between distant satellites.
The company has been testing very low-power lasers so far, but in the future it wants to use Starlink satellites to create a kind of integrated network that can provide connection even to remote locations, like Antarctica. The use of laser connections should be increased in the upcoming satellite versions to boost the network’s speed and resilience.
Originally estimating that more than 40,000 satellites would be required to deliver internet to its clients, the business now believes that a smaller number may be sufficient. SpaceX has previously launched more than 3,000 satellites into low Earth orbit and is authorized to launch up to 12,000 more. SpaceX should begin launching the upgraded satellites early in the next year. They will need to send signals straight to smartphones in addition to being bigger and more powerful than the current generation.
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