Tuesday 4 March 2014

Free Internet From Space

Free Internet From Space

Outernet wants to use tiny satellites to take the whole world online—even in countries where dictators wish they wouldn’t.

CubeSats are tiny, but they could one day be used to bring the Internet to millions.(Flickr/thebadastronomer)

If all goes according to plan, North Koreans will soon have free, uncensored Internet provided by satellites the size of toaster ovens.
That's part of a project called Outernet, which hopes to launch hundreds of tiny satellites—known as CubeSats—to provide Internet to every person on Earth. Forty percent of the world's people currently don't have access to the Web. In a little more than a year, Outernet plans to have a fleet of 24 satellites operational and testing to pave the way for a globe-spanning network.
The satellites won't be providing conventional Internet right away. They'll initially be used for one-way communication to provide services like emergency updates, news, crop prices, and educational programs. Users will help determine what content is offered.
The project's backers say knowledge is a human right—one they intend to provide even in countries where dictators have thus far limited access. "We exist to support the flow of independent news, information, and debate that people need to build free, thriving societies," said  Peter Whitehead, president of the Media Development Investment Fund, Outernet's backer. "It enables fuller participation in public life, holds the powerful to account and protects the rights of the individual."
It will be at least five years before Outernet can offer the more interactive Web as we know it, which allows users to both access information and upload it, said Syed Karim, MDIF's director of innovation.
Worldwide Internet could be available sooner, Karim said, if telecom giants invested in a few mega-capacity satellites like North America's ViaSat-1. Three years and $12 billion is all it would take to get the job done, he estimated. "We don't have $12 billion, so we'll do as much as we can with CubeSats and broadcast data," Karim said.
How much will it cost? Putting a 10x10x10-centimeter payload into orbit runs more than $100,000. A 34x10x10 satellite—the biggest unit Outernet is considering—costs more than $300,000 to launch. Now, multiply that by hundreds of satellites. "We want to stay as small as possible, because size and weight are directly related to dollars," Karim said. "Much of the size is dictated by power requirements and the solar panels needed satisfy those requirements."
To determine the range and size of its global fleet, Outernet will have to determine the gain on its signal. A higher gain would lower the satellite's reach but provide faster speeds. The first fleet's testing will help determine the right balance.
While Outernet's engineers test and prepare for launch, they're seeking support from those who believe in their cause. In addition to traditional donation sources like Paypal, they're also accepting online currencies like bitcoin and Dogecoin (bitcoin blockchains are among the initial services the one-way signals will offer). They're also asking NASA to let them test their technology on the International Space Station.

 

Views: 2,349
The ‘Outernet project based in New York has set out to launch numerous small satellites into space, also known as CubeSats, to beam free and uncensored internet to the entire world. Even countries with strict internet policies such as China and North Korea, or even remote villages or islands in Africa are set to be able to receive it. 40% of the Worlds population currently have no access to the internet according to the project.
The non-profit organisation Media Development Investment Fund (MDIF) plan to be launching the first satellites as Early as January 2015. These will not however be providing the internet as we know it, but will act as a one way communication method to provide services such as emergency and natural disaster updates and independent news. It will also provide educational programmes, the entirety of Wikipedia and OpenStreetMap.
SatelliteInternet[©iStockPhoto/christimateii]
MDIF hopes to have a full internet providing fleet of satellites by 2015. The number of satellites needed is in the hundreds. Test launches will help govern just how many are needed and also the gain of the signal as a higher gain (faster speeds) means a smaller range. The research needed for the project has mostly been done in previous satellite endeavors and research on wireless internet. The just need to put out test parts and put the theory to the task. However, the only thing hindering the project is the funding required.
We want to stay as small as possible, because size and weight are directly related to dollars,” said MDIF’s Director of Innovation, Syed Karim. “Much of the size is dictated by power requirements and the solar panels needed satisfy those requirements.
They have calculated that the cost to send a 10x10x10 centimeter satellite into orbit costs about $100,000. The largest proposed CubeSat is 34x10x10 running up a cost to send into orbit of about $300,000. Now multiply that by a few hundred satellites and add the cost of manufacturing.
SatelliteInternet2[Flickr/thebadastronomer]
The company fears that worldwide internet will already be available by then if telecom giants invest in mega capacity satellites. Three years and $12 billion is all it would take to get the job done, he estimated. “We don’t have $12 billion, so we’ll do as much as we can with CubeSats and broadcast data,” Karim said.
But who could not be excited at the prospect of free, uncensored, independent, worldwide internet.
- See more at: http://interestingengineering.com/free-uncensored-internet-from-space/#sthash.MZL8olM2.dpuf
Views: 2,349
The ‘Outernet project based in New York has set out to launch numerous small satellites into space, also known as CubeSats, to beam free and uncensored internet to the entire world. Even countries with strict internet policies such as China and North Korea, or even remote villages or islands in Africa are set to be able to receive it. 40% of the Worlds population currently have no access to the internet according to the project.
The non-profit organisation Media Development Investment Fund (MDIF) plan to be launching the first satellites as Early as January 2015. These will not however be providing the internet as we know it, but will act as a one way communication method to provide services such as emergency and natural disaster updates and independent news. It will also provide educational programmes, the entirety of Wikipedia and OpenStreetMap.
SatelliteInternet[©iStockPhoto/christimateii]
MDIF hopes to have a full internet providing fleet of satellites by 2015. The number of satellites needed is in the hundreds. Test launches will help govern just how many are needed and also the gain of the signal as a higher gain (faster speeds) means a smaller range. The research needed for the project has mostly been done in previous satellite endeavors and research on wireless internet. The just need to put out test parts and put the theory to the task. However, the only thing hindering the project is the funding required.
We want to stay as small as possible, because size and weight are directly related to dollars,” said MDIF’s Director of Innovation, Syed Karim. “Much of the size is dictated by power requirements and the solar panels needed satisfy those requirements.
They have calculated that the cost to send a 10x10x10 centimeter satellite into orbit costs about $100,000. The largest proposed CubeSat is 34x10x10 running up a cost to send into orbit of about $300,000. Now multiply that by a few hundred satellites and add the cost of manufacturing.
SatelliteInternet2[Flickr/thebadastronomer]
The company fears that worldwide internet will already be available by then if telecom giants invest in mega capacity satellites. Three years and $12 billion is all it would take to get the job done, he estimated. “We don’t have $12 billion, so we’ll do as much as we can with CubeSats and broadcast data,” Karim said.
But who could not be excited at the prospect of free, uncensored, independent, worldwide internet.
- See more at: http://interestingengineering.com/free-uncensored-internet-from-space/#sthash.MZL8olM2.dpuf
Views: 2,349
The ‘Outernet project based in New York has set out to launch numerous small satellites into space, also known as CubeSats, to beam free and uncensored internet to the entire world. Even countries with strict internet policies such as China and North Korea, or even remote villages or islands in Africa are set to be able to receive it. 40% of the Worlds population currently have no access to the internet according to the project.
The non-profit organisation Media Development Investment Fund (MDIF) plan to be launching the first satellites as Early as January 2015. These will not however be providing the internet as we know it, but will act as a one way communication method to provide services such as emergency and natural disaster updates and independent news. It will also provide educational programmes, the entirety of Wikipedia and OpenStreetMap.
SatelliteInternet[©iStockPhoto/christimateii]
MDIF hopes to have a full internet providing fleet of satellites by 2015. The number of satellites needed is in the hundreds. Test launches will help govern just how many are needed and also the gain of the signal as a higher gain (faster speeds) means a smaller range. The research needed for the project has mostly been done in previous satellite endeavors and research on wireless internet. The just need to put out test parts and put the theory to the task. However, the only thing hindering the project is the funding required.
We want to stay as small as possible, because size and weight are directly related to dollars,” said MDIF’s Director of Innovation, Syed Karim. “Much of the size is dictated by power requirements and the solar panels needed satisfy those requirements.
They have calculated that the cost to send a 10x10x10 centimeter satellite into orbit costs about $100,000. The largest proposed CubeSat is 34x10x10 running up a cost to send into orbit of about $300,000. Now multiply that by a few hundred satellites and add the cost of manufacturing.
SatelliteInternet2[Flickr/thebadastronomer]
The company fears that worldwide internet will already be available by then if telecom giants invest in mega capacity satellites. Three years and $12 billion is all it would take to get the job done, he estimated. “We don’t have $12 billion, so we’ll do as much as we can with CubeSats and broadcast data,” Karim said.
But who could not be excited at the prospect of free, uncensored, independent, worldwide internet.
- See more at: http://interestingengineering.com/free-uncensored-internet-from-space/#sthash.MZL8olM2.dpuf
Views: 2,349
The ‘Outernet project based in New York has set out to launch numerous small satellites into space, also known as CubeSats, to beam free and uncensored internet to the entire world. Even countries with strict internet policies such as China and North Korea, or even remote villages or islands in Africa are set to be able to receive it. 40% of the Worlds population currently have no access to the internet according to the project.
The non-profit organisation Media Development Investment Fund (MDIF) plan to be launching the first satellites as Early as January 2015. These will not however be providing the internet as we know it, but will act as a one way communication method to provide services such as emergency and natural disaster updates and independent news. It will also provide educational programmes, the entirety of Wikipedia and OpenStreetMap.
SatelliteInternet[©iStockPhoto/christimateii]
MDIF hopes to have a full internet providing fleet of satellites by 2015. The number of satellites needed is in the hundreds. Test launches will help govern just how many are needed and also the gain of the signal as a higher gain (faster speeds) means a smaller range. The research needed for the project has mostly been done in previous satellite endeavors and research on wireless internet. The just need to put out test parts and put the theory to the task. However, the only thing hindering the project is the funding required.
We want to stay as small as possible, because size and weight are directly related to dollars,” said MDIF’s Director of Innovation, Syed Karim. “Much of the size is dictated by power requirements and the solar panels needed satisfy those requirements.
They have calculated that the cost to send a 10x10x10 centimeter satellite into orbit costs about $100,000. The largest proposed CubeSat is 34x10x10 running up a cost to send into orbit of about $300,000. Now multiply that by a few hundred satellites and add the cost of manufacturing.
SatelliteInternet2[Flickr/thebadastronomer]
The company fears that worldwide internet will already be available by then if telecom giants invest in mega capacity satellites. Three years and $12 billion is all it would take to get the job done, he estimated. “We don’t have $12 billion, so we’ll do as much as we can with CubeSats and broadcast data,” Karim said.
But who could not be excited at the prospect of free, uncensored, independent, worldwide internet.
- See more at: http://interestingengineering.com/free-uncensored-internet-from-space/#sthash.MZL8olM2.dpuf
Views: 2,349
The ‘Outernet project based in New York has set out to launch numerous small satellites into space, also known as CubeSats, to beam free and uncensored internet to the entire world. Even countries with strict internet policies such as China and North Korea, or even remote villages or islands in Africa are set to be able to receive it. 40% of the Worlds population currently have no access to the internet according to the project.
The non-profit organisation Media Development Investment Fund (MDIF) plan to be launching the first satellites as Early as January 2015. These will not however be providing the internet as we know it, but will act as a one way communication method to provide services such as emergency and natural disaster updates and independent news. It will also provide educational programmes, the entirety of Wikipedia and OpenStreetMap.
SatelliteInternet[©iStockPhoto/christimateii]
MDIF hopes to have a full internet providing fleet of satellites by 2015. The number of satellites needed is in the hundreds. Test launches will help govern just how many are needed and also the gain of the signal as a higher gain (faster speeds) means a smaller range. The research needed for the project has mostly been done in previous satellite endeavors and research on wireless internet. The just need to put out test parts and put the theory to the task. However, the only thing hindering the project is the funding required.
We want to stay as small as possible, because size and weight are directly related to dollars,” said MDIF’s Director of Innovation, Syed Karim. “Much of the size is dictated by power requirements and the solar panels needed satisfy those requirements.
They have calculated that the cost to send a 10x10x10 centimeter satellite into orbit costs about $100,000. The largest proposed CubeSat is 34x10x10 running up a cost to send into orbit of about $300,000. Now multiply that by a few hundred satellites and add the cost of manufacturing.
SatelliteInternet2[Flickr/thebadastronomer]
The company fears that worldwide internet will already be available by then if telecom giants invest in mega capacity satellites. Three years and $12 billion is all it would take to get the job done, he estimated. “We don’t have $12 billion, so we’ll do as much as we can with CubeSats and broadcast data,” Karim said.
But who could not be excited at the prospect of free, uncensored, independent, worldwide internet.
- See more at: http://interestingengineering.com/free-uncensored-internet-from-space/#sthash.MZL8olM2.dpuf
Views: 2,349
The ‘Outernet project based in New York has set out to launch numerous small satellites into space, also known as CubeSats, to beam free and uncensored internet to the entire world. Even countries with strict internet policies such as China and North Korea, or even remote villages or islands in Africa are set to be able to receive it. 40% of the Worlds population currently have no access to the internet according to the project.
The non-profit organisation Media Development Investment Fund (MDIF) plan to be launching the first satellites as Early as January 2015. These will not however be providing the internet as we know it, but will act as a one way communication method to provide services such as emergency and natural disaster updates and independent news. It will also provide educational programmes, the entirety of Wikipedia and OpenStreetMap.
SatelliteInternet[©iStockPhoto/christimateii]
MDIF hopes to have a full internet providing fleet of satellites by 2015. The number of satellites needed is in the hundreds. Test launches will help govern just how many are needed and also the gain of the signal as a higher gain (faster speeds) means a smaller range. The research needed for the project has mostly been done in previous satellite endeavors and research on wireless internet. The just need to put out test parts and put the theory to the task. However, the only thing hindering the project is the funding required.
We want to stay as small as possible, because size and weight are directly related to dollars,” said MDIF’s Director of Innovation, Syed Karim. “Much of the size is dictated by power requirements and the solar panels needed satisfy those requirements.
They have calculated that the cost to send a 10x10x10 centimeter satellite into orbit costs about $100,000. The largest proposed CubeSat is 34x10x10 running up a cost to send into orbit of about $300,000. Now multiply that by a few hundred satellites and add the cost of manufacturing.
SatelliteInternet2[Flickr/thebadastronomer]
The company fears that worldwide internet will already be available by then if telecom giants invest in mega capacity satellites. Three years and $12 billion is all it would take to get the job done, he estimated. “We don’t have $12 billion, so we’ll do as much as we can with CubeSats and broadcast data,” Karim said.
But who could not be excited at the prospect of free, uncensored, independent, worldwide internet.
- See more at: http://interestingengineering.com/free-uncensored-internet-from-space/#sthash.MZL8olM2.dpuf
Views: 2,349
The ‘Outernet project based in New York has set out to launch numerous small satellites into space, also known as CubeSats, to beam free and uncensored internet to the entire world. Even countries with strict internet policies such as China and North Korea, or even remote villages or islands in Africa are set to be able to receive it. 40% of the Worlds population currently have no access to the internet according to the project.
The non-profit organisation Media Development Investment Fund (MDIF) plan to be launching the first satellites as Early as January 2015. These will not however be providing the internet as we know it, but will act as a one way communication method to provide services such as emergency and natural disaster updates and independent news. It will also provide educational programmes, the entirety of Wikipedia and OpenStreetMap.
SatelliteInternet[©iStockPhoto/christimateii]
MDIF hopes to have a full internet providing fleet of satellites by 2015. The number of satellites needed is in the hundreds. Test launches will help govern just how many are needed and also the gain of the signal as a higher gain (faster speeds) means a smaller range. The research needed for the project has mostly been done in previous satellite endeavors and research on wireless internet. The just need to put out test parts and put the theory to the task. However, the only thing hindering the project is the funding required.
We want to stay as small as possible, because size and weight are directly related to dollars,” said MDIF’s Director of Innovation, Syed Karim. “Much of the size is dictated by power requirements and the solar panels needed satisfy those requirements.
They have calculated that the cost to send a 10x10x10 centimeter satellite into orbit costs about $100,000. The largest proposed CubeSat is 34x10x10 running up a cost to send into orbit of about $300,000. Now multiply that by a few hundred satellites and add the cost of manufacturing.
SatelliteInternet2[Flickr/thebadastronomer]
The company fears that worldwide internet will already be available by then if telecom giants invest in mega capacity satellites. Three years and $12 billion is all it would take to get the job done, he estimated. “We don’t have $12 billion, so we’ll do as much as we can with CubeSats and broadcast data,” Karim said.
But who could not be excited at the prospect of free, uncensored, independent, worldwide internet.
- See more at: http://interestingengineering.com/free-uncensored-internet-from-space/#sthash.MZL8olM2.dpuf
Views: 2,349
The ‘Outernet project based in New York has set out to launch numerous small satellites into space, also known as CubeSats, to beam free and uncensored internet to the entire world. Even countries with strict internet policies such as China and North Korea, or even remote villages or islands in Africa are set to be able to receive it. 40% of the Worlds population currently have no access to the internet according to the project.
The non-profit organisation Media Development Investment Fund (MDIF) plan to be launching the first satellites as Early as January 2015. These will not however be providing the internet as we know it, but will act as a one way communication method to provide services such as emergency and natural disaster updates and independent news. It will also provide educational programmes, the entirety of Wikipedia and OpenStreetMap.
SatelliteInternet[©iStockPhoto/christimateii]
MDIF hopes to have a full internet providing fleet of satellites by 2015. The number of satellites needed is in the hundreds. Test launches will help govern just how many are needed and also the gain of the signal as a higher gain (faster speeds) means a smaller range. The research needed for the project has mostly been done in previous satellite endeavors and research on wireless internet. The just need to put out test parts and put the theory to the task. However, the only thing hindering the project is the funding required.
We want to stay as small as possible, because size and weight are directly related to dollars,” said MDIF’s Director of Innovation, Syed Karim. “Much of the size is dictated by power requirements and the solar panels needed satisfy those requirements.
They have calculated that the cost to send a 10x10x10 centimeter satellite into orbit costs about $100,000. The largest proposed CubeSat is 34x10x10 running up a cost to send into orbit of about $300,000. Now multiply that by a few hundred satellites and add the cost of manufacturing.
SatelliteInternet2[Flickr/thebadastronomer]
The company fears that worldwide internet will already be available by then if telecom giants invest in mega capacity satellites. Three years and $12 billion is all it would take to get the job done, he estimated. “We don’t have $12 billion, so we’ll do as much as we can with CubeSats and broadcast data,” Karim said.
But who could not be excited at the prospect of free, uncensored, independent, worldwide internet.
- See more at: http://interestingengineering.com/free-uncensored-internet-from-space/#sthash.MZL8olM2.dpuf
Views: 2,349
The ‘Outernet project based in New York has set out to launch numerous small satellites into space, also known as CubeSats, to beam free and uncensored internet to the entire world. Even countries with strict internet policies such as China and North Korea, or even remote villages or islands in Africa are set to be able to receive it. 40% of the Worlds population currently have no access to the internet according to the project.
The non-profit organisation Media Development Investment Fund (MDIF) plan to be launching the first satellites as Early as January 2015. These will not however be providing the internet as we know it, but will act as a one way communication method to provide services such as emergency and natural disaster updates and independent news. It will also provide educational programmes, the entirety of Wikipedia and OpenStreetMap.
SatelliteInternet[©iStockPhoto/christimateii]
MDIF hopes to have a full internet providing fleet of satellites by 2015. The number of satellites needed is in the hundreds. Test launches will help govern just how many are needed and also the gain of the signal as a higher gain (faster speeds) means a smaller range. The research needed for the project has mostly been done in previous satellite endeavors and research on wireless internet. The just need to put out test parts and put the theory to the task. However, the only thing hindering the project is the funding required.
We want to stay as small as possible, because size and weight are directly related to dollars,” said MDIF’s Director of Innovation, Syed Karim. “Much of the size is dictated by power requirements and the solar panels needed satisfy those requirements.
They have calculated that the cost to send a 10x10x10 centimeter satellite into orbit costs about $100,000. The largest proposed CubeSat is 34x10x10 running up a cost to send into orbit of about $300,000. Now multiply that by a few hundred satellites and add the cost of manufacturing.
SatelliteInternet2[Flickr/thebadastronomer]
The company fears that worldwide internet will already be available by then if telecom giants invest in mega capacity satellites. Three years and $12 billion is all it would take to get the job done, he estimated. “We don’t have $12 billion, so we’ll do as much as we can with CubeSats and broadcast data,” Karim said.
But who could not be excited at the prospect of free, uncensored, independent, worldwide internet.
- See more at: http://interestingengineering.com/free-uncensored-internet-from-space/#sthash.MZL8olM2.dpuf
Views: 2,349
The ‘Outernet project based in New York has set out to launch numerous small satellites into space, also known as CubeSats, to beam free and uncensored internet to the entire world. Even countries with strict internet policies such as China and North Korea, or even remote villages or islands in Africa are set to be able to receive it. 40% of the Worlds population currently have no access to the internet according to the project.
The non-profit organisation Media Development Investment Fund (MDIF) plan to be launching the first satellites as Early as January 2015. These will not however be providing the internet as we know it, but will act as a one way communication method to provide services such as emergency and natural disaster updates and independent news. It will also provide educational programmes, the entirety of Wikipedia and OpenStreetMap.
SatelliteInternet[©iStockPhoto/christimateii]
MDIF hopes to have a full internet providing fleet of satellites by 2015. The number of satellites needed is in the hundreds. Test launches will help govern just how many are needed and also the gain of the signal as a higher gain (faster speeds) means a smaller range. The research needed for the project has mostly been done in previous satellite endeavors and research on wireless internet. The just need to put out test parts and put the theory to the task. However, the only thing hindering the project is the funding required.
We want to stay as small as possible, because size and weight are directly related to dollars,” said MDIF’s Director of Innovation, Syed Karim. “Much of the size is dictated by power requirements and the solar panels needed satisfy those requirements.
They have calculated that the cost to send a 10x10x10 centimeter satellite into orbit costs about $100,000. The largest proposed CubeSat is 34x10x10 running up a cost to send into orbit of about $300,000. Now multiply that by a few hundred satellites and add the cost of manufacturing.
SatelliteInternet2[Flickr/thebadastronomer]
The company fears that worldwide internet will already be available by then if telecom giants invest in mega capacity satellites. Three years and $12 billion is all it would take to get the job done, he estimated. “We don’t have $12 billion, so we’ll do as much as we can with CubeSats and broadcast data,” Karim said.
But who could not be excited at the prospect of free, uncensored, independent, worldwide internet.
- See more at: http://interestingengineering.com/free-uncensored-internet-from-space/#sthash.MZL8olM2.dpuf
Views: 2,349
The ‘Outernet project based in New York has set out to launch numerous small satellites into space, also known as CubeSats, to beam free and uncensored internet to the entire world. Even countries with strict internet policies such as China and North Korea, or even remote villages or islands in Africa are set to be able to receive it. 40% of the Worlds population currently have no access to the internet according to the project.
The non-profit organisation Media Development Investment Fund (MDIF) plan to be launching the first satellites as Early as January 2015. These will not however be providing the internet as we know it, but will act as a one way communication method to provide services such as emergency and natural disaster updates and independent news. It will also provide educational programmes, the entirety of Wikipedia and OpenStreetMap.
SatelliteInternet[©iStockPhoto/christimateii]
MDIF hopes to have a full internet providing fleet of satellites by 2015. The number of satellites needed is in the hundreds. Test launches will help govern just how many are needed and also the gain of the signal as a higher gain (faster speeds) means a smaller range. The research needed for the project has mostly been done in previous satellite endeavors and research on wireless internet. The just need to put out test parts and put the theory to the task. However, the only thing hindering the project is the funding required.
We want to stay as small as possible, because size and weight are directly related to dollars,” said MDIF’s Director of Innovation, Syed Karim. “Much of the size is dictated by power requirements and the solar panels needed satisfy those requirements.
They have calculated that the cost to send a 10x10x10 centimeter satellite into orbit costs about $100,000. The largest proposed CubeSat is 34x10x10 running up a cost to send into orbit of about $300,000. Now multiply that by a few hundred satellites and add the cost of manufacturing.
SatelliteInternet2[Flickr/thebadastronomer]
The company fears that worldwide internet will already be available by then if telecom giants invest in mega capacity satellites. Three years and $12 billion is all it would take to get the job done, he estimated. “We don’t have $12 billion, so we’ll do as much as we can with CubeSats and broadcast data,” Karim said.
But who could not be excited at the prospect of free, uncensored, independent, worldwide internet.
- See more at: http://interestingengineering.com/free-uncensored-internet-from-space/#sthash.MZL8olM2.dpuf
Views: 2,349
The ‘Outernet project based in New York has set out to launch numerous small satellites into space, also known as CubeSats, to beam free and uncensored internet to the entire world. Even countries with strict internet policies such as China and North Korea, or even remote villages or islands in Africa are set to be able to receive it. 40% of the Worlds population currently have no access to the internet according to the project.
The non-profit organisation Media Development Investment Fund (MDIF) plan to be launching the first satellites as Early as January 2015. These will not however be providing the internet as we know it, but will act as a one way communication method to provide services such as emergency and natural disaster updates and independent news. It will also provide educational programmes, the entirety of Wikipedia and OpenStreetMap.
SatelliteInternet[©iStockPhoto/christimateii]
MDIF hopes to have a full internet providing fleet of satellites by 2015. The number of satellites needed is in the hundreds. Test launches will help govern just how many are needed and also the gain of the signal as a higher gain (faster speeds) means a smaller range. The research needed for the project has mostly been done in previous satellite endeavors and research on wireless internet. The just need to put out test parts and put the theory to the task. However, the only thing hindering the project is the funding required.
We want to stay as small as possible, because size and weight are directly related to dollars,” said MDIF’s Director of Innovation, Syed Karim. “Much of the size is dictated by power requirements and the solar panels needed satisfy those requirements.
They have calculated that the cost to send a 10x10x10 centimeter satellite into orbit costs about $100,000. The largest proposed CubeSat is 34x10x10 running up a cost to send into orbit of about $300,000. Now multiply that by a few hundred satellites and add the cost of manufacturing.
SatelliteInternet2[Flickr/thebadastronomer]
The company fears that worldwide internet will already be available by then if telecom giants invest in mega capacity satellites. Three years and $12 billion is all it would take to get the job done, he estimated. “We don’t have $12 billion, so we’ll do as much as we can with CubeSats and broadcast data,” Karim said.
But who could not be excited at the prospect of free, uncensored, independent, worldwide internet.
- See more at: http://interestingengineering.com/free-uncensored-internet-from-space/#sthash.MZL8olM2.dpuf

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