Your internet isn’t in space. It’s in the ocean. But that might change, and here’s why.
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Elon Musk tweeted that Starlink satellite internet service is now available in Ukraine. What does that really mean? Why is it important? And if it’s a big new thing that the internet is in space then… where was it before? In this video, I dive deep into how your internet gets to you right now, why Elon Musk wants to put it in space, and why it all matters.
We’re in the middle of the Internet Space Race. It’s not just Elon with Starlink and SpaceX, it’s also Jeff Bezos with Project Kuiper… oh and don’t forget Richard Branson with OneWeb. Why do all these billionaires want to put your internet in space? So much so that they’re willing to put millions of dollars on the line, weather geomagnetic storms, and launch thousands of satellites into orbit, all in an attempt to change the way millions of people get their (your!) internet.
But this is more than just a fight between billionaires. It’s a fight for the future of the internet. It’s an effort to get connected the billions of people who still, in 2022, don’t have access to high speed internet – or can’t afford the cost given the way it’s being provided today.
This is a story about ambition, connection, and a WHOLE LOT of crazy cool engineering.
I show 3 maps in this video that you might enjoy exploring for yourself:
– Submarine cable map: https://www.submarinecablemap.com/
– Share of the population using the internet: https://ourworldindata.org/grapher/share-of-individuals-using-the-internet
– Starlink satellite map: https://satellitemap.space/
Chapters:
00:00 The Internet Space Race has begun
01:15 How does the internet work?
05:03 Why put the internet in space?
10:37 How does Starlink work?
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I tell different stories in different places:
You can find me on TikTok here for short, fun tech explainers: https://www.tiktok.com/@cleoabram
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Bio:
Cleo Abram is an Emmy-nominated video producer and journalist. Cleo produces detailed explainer stories about technology and economics. She wrote the Coding and Diamonds episodes of Vox’s Netflix show, Explained, was the host and a senior producer of Vox’s first ever daily show, Answered, as well as a host and producer of Vox’s YouTube Originals show, Glad You Asked. She now makes her own independent show, Huge If True. Each episode takes on one big technology innovation or idea, explains what it is, and helps people imagine the ways it could improve the world we live in by answering one simple question: If this works, what could go right?
Sources I read/watched for this video and think you might enjoy:
– “Why SpaceX is Making Starlink,” Real Engineering https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=giQ8xEWjnBs&t=108s&ab_channel=RealEngineering
– “Gaming on STARLINK!!” Linus Tech Tips https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fh1a2K9ZgNA&t=207s&ab_channel=LinusTechTips
– “What Elon Musk’s 42,000 Satellites Could Do To Earth,” Tech Insider https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Aw3R-4UC4wI&t=165s&ab_channel=TechInsider
– “Why Starlink is crucial for SpaceX’s success,” CNBC https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GambrByc01A&t=1010s&ab_channel=CNBC
– “Starlink explained – why SpaceX needs 42,000 satellites,” Undecided with Matt Ferrell https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tuFS0zOwyBg&t=182s&ab_channel=UndecidedwithMattFerrell
– “It’s time for a new approach for mapping broadband data to better serve Americans,” Microsoft https://blogs.microsoft.com/on-the-issues/2019/04/08/its-time-for-a-new-approach-for-mapping-broadband-data-to-better-serve-americans/
– “Broadband for all: charting a path to economic growth,” Deloitte https://www2.deloitte.com/content/dam/Deloitte/us/Documents/process-and-operations/us-broadband-for-all-economic-growth.pdf
Vox: https://www.vox.com/authors/cleo-abram
IMDb: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm10108242/
Gear I use:
Camera: Sony A7SIII
Lens: Sony 16–35 mm F2.8 GM
Audio: Sennheiser SK AVX and Zoom H4N Pro
Music: Musicbed
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Welcome to the joke down low (an idea 100% in reference to Answer In Progress’ awesome “joke below the fold” – I always scroll down to see them and always wanted to do this myself too):
How do trees access the internet?
They log in.
Find a way to use the word “log” in a comment to let me know you’re a real one 😉