** In a stunning leap forward for space technology , Chinese scientists have achieved an unprecedented breakthrough in satellite communication, using a laser as weak as a nightlight to outpace the speeds of Starlink . Operating from an altitude of 36,000 kilometers —more than 60 times higher than SpaceX’s Starlink network —this Chinese satellite has demonstrated a level of data transmission far superior to what Starlink can offer, pushing the boundaries of what many thought possible.**
The Chinese are having some stunning breakthroughs on a lot of fronts.
Great question. It looks like People are working on a solution for that also. @Eldemonio has one solution and the Swiss has another. I wonder if they will have the data package wrapped in a much higher strength laser much like they wrap the data package in Ethernet and strip it off at each layer.
From the link: A team of researchers from the University of Geneva in Switzerland has made progress towards solving this issue with a high-powered “laser cleaner” that super-heats the air and blasts a temporary path through clouds using shockwaves.
But the Chinese system was a low power (2 Watt) laser.
Right but the way I understand it is the Swiss are trying to get a high powered laser to punch through the cloud layer and then have the low powered laser enveloped within the High powered laser. This might not work so then the only way to transport the data would be the way @eldemonio suggested. But that has flaws also because you have to hope you can find a ground base that is clear of clouds. It looks like the technology is not there yet but being developed.
Nobody cares about Elon’s companies they are focused on technologies and the next disruption. If you are cheerleading Elon and expect his companies to never be disrupted good luck. That is never the case. Even Elon knows he needs to be always looking over his shoulder or he will be kicked out of the lead.
Yes.
And it is also amazing what you can do when you waste away forced savings of your middle class on housing and a police state that does not understand economics.
Modernity aint easy given that humans are the way they are….
So true. Knowledge is a monopoly of US, West, and Musk.
PS: Knowledge is not a monopoly if any region, country, set, religion, people or person. When you accept this basic fundamental truth, you will embrace others success.
Data transfer rates are important, but so is latency. If you’ve ever had a conversation with someone by satellite you’ll know how it interrupts the natural human speech patterns. If not you can see it on display on any news show that’s talking to a correspondent overseas. The question is asked, beat, beat, and then the person answers.
This is manageable for such things, mostly because they have no other choice. And for web browsing or simple tasks it’s not a big deal, but for “true 2-way communication” it’s uncomfortable, maybe a killer. (Can be overcome with pricing, convenience, etc. obviously.)
That’s where Starlink or other LEO solutions shine, the latency almost disappears entirely. You wouldn’t think that extra 1/2 to 3/4 second (or full second to 1.5 seconds on a double hop would matter that much but it really does in a phone conversation.)
If China can produce a product that is technically just one or two steps behind the best out of US at a price that is 30%, 50% less, it will win out. Winner takes it all doesn’t apply to everything. When in doubt look at Chinese cell phone market.
