SpaceX’s Foray Into "Space Internet" Fans Flames of Rivalry With Blue Origin
From Inverse
A new Space Race is afoot, but it’s not between the United States and Russia. This time it’s between two U.S.-based companies: SpaceX and Blue Origin are both vying to bring the internet to space. This latest chapter in the rivalry between SpaceX’s Elon Musk and Blue Origin’s Jeff Bezos concerns who will get to provide satellite internet to Earthlings and, eventually, space travelers.https://www.inverse.com/article/29239-spacex-blue-origin-space-internet-raceThis week, news surfaced that SpaceX has been quietly meeting with the Federal Communications Commission about launching a constellation of internet satellites. A public FCC disclosure shows that SpaceX met with the FCC on February 28 and March 9. At those meetings, SpaceX officials discussed the company’s hopes for a license that would allow it to create a constellation of internet satellites.
A “space internet” satellite constellation could support communication for crewed spaceflights in the future. Until we’re sending rockets to mars, though, it could help provide fast, reliable broadband internet coverage to people all over the world. The United Nations recognizes internet access as a basic human right, so bringing global broadband coverage to people in developing nations or rural communities could be a victory for humanity.
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Space exploration - in the private sector, where it should be! One thing Obama got right!