Elon Musk Tweets Via SpaceX Starlink Satellite

Elon Musk has sent the first tweet via the Starlink orbiting network. SpaceX's internet-satellite constellation is working now, at least the CEO's tweet claims so. Musk first tweeted to check if it would go through. Two minutes later, he tweeted again about its success. For all its experiments, Elon Musk's tweet test has marked a milestone for the private space agency.

Elon Musk Tweet Test

The Starlink is an ambitious project by SpaceX where numerous satellites (a satellite constellation) will be launched to provide high-bandwidth internet access to the world. SpaceX has already launched 60 Starlink satellites and has the approval to launch 12,000 more. In a recent bid to expand the constellation, SpaceX has requested to send another 30,000 more satellites in space.

Sending this tweet through space via Starlink satellite 🛰

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) October 22, 2019

Earlier this year, Elon Musk had said that at least 400 Starlink satellites are needed to provide a minor coverage and at least 800 more for moderate data coverage. Now, Musk has tested with the already launched satellites and it's working.

Satellite Constellation

The satellite constellation is surely an ambitious dream. At the same time, other private companies are pitching on a similar idea. Amazon is working on a project to launch 3,000 broadband craft and OneWeb is also launching 650-strong constellation this year, where the first batch of six satellites have already been launched.

The advantages of having a satellite beaming high-bandwidth internet are many. At the same time, the number of satellites in the lower Earth orbit (LEO) is becoming dangerous. Recently, the Genesis II spacecraft faced a huge threat from a dead Russian satellite. Scientists and space researchers are working on different types of satellite materials that do not harm other space equipment or the LEO.

At present, roughly 2,000 operational satellites are orbiting our planet. Moreover, the drop in expenses for developing and manufacturing satellites has contributed to the rising population. A fully functional Starlink satellite constellation will fundamentally change the Earth-orbiting population.