Important Innovations

Global Broadband Internet Access                             Source:  NASA Satellite Constellations Amazon Competing Against Space X Amazon is investing $10 billion to build a network of 3,236 satellites to provide high speed, broadband internet services to people around the world, including those who lack access.  The announcement comes within a day of Amazon posting the biggest profits in its 26 year history. FCC Approval for the Satellite System The Federal Communications Commission just gave Amazon approval for its Project Kuiper for a constellation of low earth orbit satellites.  The Amazon satellite network is in direct competition with SpaceX's Starlink.  SpaceX CEO Elon Musk has already launched more than 500 satellites into low earth orbit to provide inexpensive global internet access.  He plans for a system of 12,000 satellites.  Starlink will start offering broadband services to the US and Canada by the end of this year. Crowded Skies Amazon says its system will also ben

Starlink Constellation of Internet Satellites Source:  NASA Launchdate - Tomorrow April 22 SpaceX plans to launch its seventh group of Starlink Satellites on April 22, 2020. The batch of 60 new satellites will join thousands already in orbit.  Starlink is entrepreneur Elon Musk's system to deliver broadband internet  connectivity to the world and provide faster and stronger communications services. New FCC Request From Musk for Starlink Musk has just sought US Federal Communications Commission approval to operate all of his 4,400 first generation Starlink sats at a lower  level than previously approved.  The request is for approved orbits at 550 kilometers for some  of the launched satellites. Most of his sats had  been okayed for about 1200 kilometers orbit above the Earth.   One reason cited by SpaceX for this request is that it will result in  less space debris. B ecause at a lower altitude, expended satellites