Last Thursday SpaceX, the company led by Elon Musk, launched 57 “Starlink” satellites into low earth orbit. For the first day or so they could be seen in the night sky as a string of bright lights racing across the night sky, prior to moving off under their own steam to take up separate orbits. Last Saturday night Wilfred Karnoll was lucky enough to see this spectactular show and was briefly convinced he might have been seeing UFOs.
Perhaps others also caught a glimpse of this latest deployment by SpaceX? Let us know if you did.
While sixty-odd satellites sounds like a lot, this is mearly the lastest batch in a major program that will ultimately see a network of thousands of wirelessly interconnected satellites that will provide high bandwith internet to people around the word in even the remotest of locations.
Currently there are over 700 Starlink satellites overhead and beta testing of internet links has commenced in the US. Hovever SpaceX has permission to launch nearly 12,000 and has currently seeking further permission to have a total of 42,000 satellites in orbit. Currently there are only about 2000 satellites of all types circling the earth, so space is going to get pretty crowded in the future. Astronomers have complained that all these bright objects will hinder stargazing – SpaceX has responded by intalling “sunshades” over its latest satellites.
Australian regulator ACMA has given SpaceX initial approval for the Starlink internet service to operate in Australia, but there is much more testing, launching and approvals to do before we in Paluma can think about switching from the rather lack-lustre SkyMuster NBN satellite. In the mean time you can go to this website, or download an Apple or Android, app that will tell you when you can observe the light-show over Townsville/Paluma.
… and I hadn’t been drinking either, I was just returning from Mount Spec after a hard day’s work at the shelter!!
UFO’s, earthquakes…….What’s next? Never a dull moment when you live at Paluma!!