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Let's think about this rationally...is there a cost-benefit analysis for global internet access vs higher fidelity astronomy? Can astronomers use software and

Let's think about this rationally...is there a cost-benefit analysis for global internet access vs higher fidelity astronomy? Can astronomers use software and API's to minimize the downsides? Are the upsides for human inter-connectivity as great as claimed?

ramraj07 7y ago
My initial reaction was NO, but then saner minds prevailed and you might have a point - to be able to get unrestricted internet in China or Iran or India (didn't realize how bad censorship was even here. And satellite internet is a criminal offense) would be amazing. We might still not get it though, since it's not just receiving but also transmitting, so surreptitiously using SpaceX internet might not be possible in those places. If you can't solve that problem, then I don't think it's worth it just so some first world folks can YouTube when camping.
- cma 7y ago
  I would think Space X isn’t even going to transmit to the ground in China.
  - C14L 7y ago
    It will be very interesting to see how China will react to this. Will they use the Tesla investment in the country to "convince" Musk to disable the signal when the satellites are over China? Or will they simply make the satellite receivers illegal and not care about the few who use them anyways?
    - SiempreViernes 7y ago
      The will undoubtedly apply financial pressure, regardless of what other actions they take.
    - cma 7y ago
      Pretty sure SpaceX has to get licensing everywhere they broadcast (not sure how international waters works).
- C14L 7y ago
  Accessing those satellites from China or Iran or North Korea and many other countries (though, why did you mention India?) will probably still be illegal. But there are many poor countries with rural areas that have almost no Internet access and would greatly profit from it. Starlink seems to be especially useful for people in those areas.
  - SiempreViernes 7y ago
    Are there that many poor rural areas that could use and pay for internet? It seems necessary that they have both electricity and digital devices, which isn't really something you see in what I would consider poor rural area on a global scale. You might be thinking of a poor urban area instead, the poor rural areas in sub-sahara africa rarely have built up stoves, so requiring electricity is pretty far fetched.
- chr1 7y ago
  Starlink is important not simply because it gives faster internet, but because it creates steady demand for space launches. The only way we can get cheap and reliable rockets is using them for something, and at this point rockets do not have many other uses. So if spacex gets "first world folks" spend their money on improving rockets, it's good for everyone!
Traster 7y ago
Rationally the company that was founded by a guy who thinks we need to start seriously considering space travel probably shouldn't be fucking up our primary way of studying space.

ramraj07 7y ago

My initial reaction was NO, but then saner minds prevailed and you might have a point - to be able to get unrestricted internet in China or Iran or India (didn't realize how bad censorship was even here. And satellite internet is a criminal offense) would be amazing. We might still not get it though, since it's not just receiving but also transmitting, so surreptitiously using SpaceX internet might not be possible in those places. If you can't solve that problem, then I don't think it's worth it just so some first world folks can YouTube when camping.

cma 7y ago
I would think Space X isn’t even going to transmit to the ground in China.
- C14L 7y ago
  It will be very interesting to see how China will react to this. Will they use the Tesla investment in the country to "convince" Musk to disable the signal when the satellites are over China? Or will they simply make the satellite receivers illegal and not care about the few who use them anyways?
  - SiempreViernes 7y ago
    The will undoubtedly apply financial pressure, regardless of what other actions they take.
  - cma 7y ago
    Pretty sure SpaceX has to get licensing everywhere they broadcast (not sure how international waters works).
C14L 7y ago
Accessing those satellites from China or Iran or North Korea and many other countries (though, why did you mention India?) will probably still be illegal. But there are many poor countries with rural areas that have almost no Internet access and would greatly profit from it. Starlink seems to be especially useful for people in those areas.
- SiempreViernes 7y ago
  Are there that many poor rural areas that could use and pay for internet? It seems necessary that they have both electricity and digital devices, which isn't really something you see in what I would consider poor rural area on a global scale. You might be thinking of a poor urban area instead, the poor rural areas in sub-sahara africa rarely have built up stoves, so requiring electricity is pretty far fetched.
chr1 7y ago
Starlink is important not simply because it gives faster internet, but because it creates steady demand for space launches. The only way we can get cheap and reliable rockets is using them for something, and at this point rockets do not have many other uses. So if spacex gets "first world folks" spend their money on improving rockets, it's good for everyone!

Traster 7y ago

Rationally the company that was founded by a guy who thinks we need to start seriously considering space travel probably shouldn't be fucking up our primary way of studying space.