The Space X Internet network project in space is growing at a rapid pace. Within 3 months a beta version will be tested with the employees of the company in order to make adjustments and to be able to launch public tests before the end of 2020.
For the moment, the Starlink project has 420 active satellites positioned between approximately 1100 and 1300 km from our planet. This distance already allows the spacecraft to be seen with the naked eye in the sky, but SpaceX could adjust their positions and eventually bring them closer to Earth to improve their performance.

In fine, the Starlink project should count more than 42,000 before 2030 at a launch rate of 60 satellites every two weeks in 2020 and intensify the pace in the medium term. These satellites placed all around the Earth will make it possible to offer a fast and inexpensive Internet network to the whole world, even to isolated populations.

Coverage should first be available for the northern United States and Canada.

The terminal to receive the signal should look like a “UFO on a stick”, with installation that would be very easy. The box will contain only two instructions, which can be followed in any order: “point to the sky, and plug in. “The antenna will then automatically align itself with one of the satellites.

The service is aimed primarily at the niche market of users living in remote areas, so it does not threaten traditional telecom companies, according to Musk.
Elon Musk hopes to eventually gain 3 to 5% of the global Internet market, a share estimated at 30 billion dollars per year.

Satellites are visible from the earth after sunset or early in the morning because they can reflect sunlight and become visible not only to sophisticated astronomy telescopes but also to ordinary amateur binoculars.
Each of the dashed trails corresponds to a Starlink satellite.

M.D