Satellites rocket to new heights as startups launch space Wi-Fi

Looks like a star... actually a Starlink. The satellite-launch industry — which puts machines into space to orbit planets including the Earth — is entering its startup era. For decades, satellite tech has been used for everything from gov’t surveillance and GPS to weather-pattern tracking and boosting TV signals. But uses are growing: SpaceX’s Starlink satellites aim to provide internet to rural areas and have been used to provide high-speed Wi-Fi on tens of thousands of flights for carriers like Hawaiian Airlines and Qatar Airways. Last year, T-Mobile teamed up with SpaceX to launch the first “direct to cell” satellites designed to supercharge cell coverage from space. Space startup funding more than doubled in Q1 as rising geopolitical tensions drove governments to ramp up satellite surveillance (think: monitoring borders).

Players in this space… There are nearly 10K satellites estimated to be orbiting Earth, and NASA says private companies will play a growing role in launches. Musk’s Starlink is the biggest player by far, with 6K+ satellites orbiting 342 miles above Earth. SpaceX plans to launch 144 Falcon rocket missions this year, largely to deploy more internet-beaming satellites. Rivals are picking up speed too: Rocket Lab USA has launched 180+ satellites, providing internet access to remote locations for services like forest-fire detection. And Amazon’s Project Kuiper has been testing launches to reach its goal of connecting 3.2K satellites that offer space-based internet.

To infinity… As satellite demand grows, so have investments into tech that can cut launch costs (like: 3D printed rocket parts, smaller satellites). Now companies that used to pay hundreds of thousands per launch can pay a fraction of the price. Experts say satellite launches could reach 2.8K a year (or 8/day) by 2032. But some scientists fear that Starlink’s supersonic growth could interfere with universe observations and spaceflight safety. Last week, a SpaceX rocket malfunctioned, dropping 20 Starlink satellites into the wrong orbit.