SpaceX: Potentially, a whole new Internet could begin on Saturday.

[Don C]

So what is the connection between ground and satellite? What is my aging iMac "listening" to and what is it sending up? I am guessing it is not Bluetooth? Is it a process we now have or something new?

[Paul F.]

Don C wrote:
So what is the connection between ground and satellite? What is my aging iMac "listening" to and what is it sending up? I am guessing it is not Bluetooth? Is it a process we now have or something new?

I’m assuming a transciever on the roof, and a “modem/router” of some sort... but of course, since we’re a few years away from enough satellites in orbit to begin service, we don’t know what the consumer hardware looks like yet.

[DP]

4,000 satellites? All I can think of is the scene from WALL-E where he's holding onto the side of the rocket leaving Earth and they have to crash thru the all the space junk in orbit.

I know, I know, it's progress...

[DeusxMac]

Now scheduled for Sunday morning.

[rz]

jdc wrote:
So fast that "saving" a file to the "cloud" via the net will be instant. Even a 20 GB movie. So sending a file anywhere is instant.

your computer will only need a CPU/GPU combo, no drive necessary.

Until someone hacks it. Or there's some sort of failure. Then EVERYTHING will be gone. Yeah, thanks, I'd rather have my stuff on MY hard drive, not in the "cloud".

[WHiiP]

I think they are missing out on the name of the "constellation."

I like SkyNET.

:emoticon-tv-015:

[mikebw]

How many sats would we need to block out a significant portion of the sun?

But seriously, this could be a game changer. I suppose they would launch up a few hundred to get things going and then over time expand and replace as the older ones dropped out.

[sekker]

mikebw wrote:
How many sats would we need to block out a significant portion of the sun?

But seriously, this could be a game changer. I suppose they would launch up a few hundred to get things going and then over time expand and replace as the older ones dropped out.

Yes, all made possible as they make their rockets as completely re-usable. If no one else wants to fly payloads, they have a guaranteed customer - themselves.

[DeusxMac]

Rescheduled for Wednesday morning the 21st.