Strange objects being shot down from the sky was one thing, but now a chain of stars over Chicago? What’s happening?
If anyone saw a line of what looked like comets over the Chicago skyline Monday night, there’s no alien invasion coming. The chain of stars seen going over the skyline was Elon Musk’s Starlink.
What is Starlink?
Starlink is a chain of ten low-flying satellites that have been circling the globe. Musk started this in 2019 to provide internet service in countries around the world. Musk’s company, SpaceX, has since launched more than 3,000 of these satellites into orbit.
These satellites, since launched, travel in a line at such a low orbit that the sun can glisten off of them. This creates the chain-like effect people see when they gaze up at the sky.
Starlink Over the States
The Starlink Satellite system passed over Chicago at around 6:00 pm on Monday. Stargazers, commuters, tourists, and Chicagoans all over gazing up at the sky to watch this sci-fi display.
Starlink has been seen in many states other than Chicago. It has been seen in Michigan, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Utah, Ohio, Maine, and Wisconsin.
Using Starlink
You can buy internet service from SpaceX, but it costs a pretty penny. It costs $110 a month with a $599 initial hardware cost. Seems pretty sci-fi to get your internet from a chain in space, doesn’t it?
An interesting thing about this is that with a router you could access the internet from anywhere. This means that in an RV, a different home, or in the car you could have access to internet service. In fact, two cruise ship lines, Windstar Cruises, and American Fleet have already installed it for Wi-fi.
Starlink.com, their website, states that “Starlink’s high-speed, low-latency service is made possible via the world’s largest constellation of highly advanced satellites operating in a low orbit around the Earth.”
More Satellites Over the Skyline
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has given SpaceX the approval to launch 7,500 of the newest Starlink satellites into orbit.
“Our action will allow SpaceX to begin deployment of Gen2 Starlink, which will bring next-generation satellite broadband to Americans nationwide, including those living and working in areas traditionally unserved or underserved by terrestrial systems,” said the FCC in a statement on their decision.
Until then, all around the world we can look up at the sky and see a little bit of the future of technology.
Written by Caroline Buehler
Sources:
The Hill: See a string of lights in the sky? What it is, and when you could see them again
Space.com: SpaceX gets permission to deploy 7,500 next-generation Starlink satellites
Starlink: WORLD’S MOST ADVANCED BROADBAND SATELLITE INTERNET
USA Today: Windstar Cruises, American Queen Voyages add Starlink Internet to their Fleets
Featured and Top Image courtesy of Caroline Buehler
First Inset Image Courtesy of Athena Iluz Flickr Page – Creative Commons License
