When Russia attacks Ukraine, the Starlink satellite network plays an important role: Citizens, companies and even the military can continue to use the Internet despite Russian bombing. But what makes the system so special?
Starlink, the satellite network of Elon Musk’s space company SpaceX, is making the headlines again. Since the start of the war in Ukraine, it has kept Ukrainian citizens and businesses online despite Russian attacks on telecommunications and energy infrastructure. The Internet connection is also used by Ukrainian troops – for communication on the battlefield or for controlling drones and weapon systems. For Ukraine, the system is therefore an important pillar in its defense efforts.
But what makes Starlink so special? Here is an overview:
How does Starlink work?
The Starlink network consists of a swarm of small satellites that are constantly moving and communicating with each other. They will fly in a low orbit at an altitude of 550 kilometers around the Earth, much lower than other Internet communications satellites parked at 35,000 kilometers in geostationary orbit.
When a user wants to access the Internet via Starlink, all they need is a special Starlink antenna, about the size of a pizza box. A signal is sent from it to the next passing Starlink satellite in the sky. This forwards it via laser to satellites in its vicinity – in this way the signal travels in space from satellite to satellite to its destination.
When the signal reaches a satellite near the target area, it is broadcast by radio to a ground station that is connected to the internet. In this way, the Starlink network can establish a fast and reliable connection through space, even in areas of the world where other Internet services are not available – for example on the fought fronts of the Ukraine war or in cities with bombed infrastructure.
What are the benefits of Starlink?
What are the disadvantages of Starlink?
How many Starlink satellites are in space?
By early 2023, SpaceX will have put around 3,500 first-generation Starlink satellites into orbit. The final constellation, approved by the US authority FCC, is said to include around 12,000 satellites. But SpaceX would like to launch up to 42,000 satellites into orbit.
Are there other companies planning something similar?
The British company OneWeb and Amazon’s Project Kuiper are also relying on networks of low-flying satellites. OneWeb has now launched several hundred satellites into space and intends to offer global Internet by the end of 2023. Amazon plans to launch test satellites in the first quarter of 2023. The Chinese companies GalaxySpace and China SatNet are also working on the technology.
