Outernet - interesting concept

[vicrock]

http://www.ibtimes.com/introducing-outer...ce-1556016

[SteveG]

We were discussing Apple buying that space launch company a few days ago. Does this add or subtract from the argument in favor?

"Forget what you know about the Internet, especially the part where you have to pay to access it. A New York City-based company, the Media Development Investment Fund, plans to launch hundreds of low-cost miniature satellites known as “cubesats” into orbit around the Earth to create the Outernet, a wireless connection to the Web available for free to every person in the world. If everything goes according to plan, the Outernet could be here as soon as June 2015.

Each cubesat receives data from a network of ground stations around the world and transmits this information on a loop until new information is received. This means using the Outernet will be more like watching a program broadcast on TV, though Outernet users will build a priority list for the information they want and make suggestions for new content."

[Filliam H. Muffman]

Orbiting WiFi satellites might be an answer for one of the largest groups of computer users that are currently behind the Great Firewall, but how does one make sure Facebook erases a cached version of your timeline off a cubesat?

[mikebw]

I read something in Wired about Google testing a network of weather balloons to deliver internet access to virtually anywhere in the world. Presumably cheaper than an orbiting satellite?

[bobinmurphy]

Free? So those cubesats don't cost anything, it takes nothing to put them in orbit and the ground stations run off hot air? Somebody has to pay and I'd like to know who.

[cbelt3]

Cubesat launch costs are in the $10 - $100K. strictly low orbit disposable designs rather then geosynch orbit, which requires a kick stage, long life, high power, etc.. It's an interesting concept.. a 'mesh' network rather than a few big nodes.

[GGD]

cbelt3 wrote:
Cubesat launch costs are in the $10 - $100K. strictly low orbit disposable designs rather then geosynch orbit, which requires a kick stage, long life, high power, etc.. It's an interesting concept.. a 'mesh' network rather than a few big nodes.

But how will computers on the ground access it. Space is well beyond WiFi range. Wonder what hardware will be needed to access it, and what that will cost.

It also seems to be broadcast only, so it's not really a communication network like the internet, it's more like TV or Radio.

[Filliam H. Muffman]

GGD wrote:
But how will computers on the ground access it. Space is well beyond WiFi range. Wonder what hardware will be needed to access it, and what that will cost.

Venezuelans set new WiFi distance record: 237 miles

Granted, geosynchronous orbit is 100 times that, but the biggest problems for distances like +200 miles for WiFi, are time delay and interference between devices.

[GGD]

Filliam H. Muffman wrote:
[quote=GGD]
But how will computers on the ground access it. Space is well beyond WiFi range. Wonder what hardware will be needed to access it, and what that will cost.

Venezuelans set new WiFi distance record: 237 miles

Granted, geosynchronous orbit is 100 times that, but the biggest problems for distances like +200 miles for WiFi, are time delay and interference between devices.
That's great, but what can a MacBook Pro do?

If conventional WiFi had even a fraction of that range, imagine the War Driving you could do from a commercial aircraft. And also imagine the length of the WiFi menu as you see every network in your city.

[Paul F.]

GGD wrote:
[quote=Filliam H. Muffman]
[quote=GGD]
But how will computers on the ground access it. Space is well beyond WiFi range. Wonder what hardware will be needed to access it, and what that will cost.

Venezuelans set new WiFi distance record: 237 miles

Granted, geosynchronous orbit is 100 times that, but the biggest problems for distances like +200 miles for WiFi, are time delay and interference between devices.
That's great, but what can a MacBook Pro do?

If conventional WiFi had even a fraction of that range, imagine the War Driving you could do from a commercial aircraft. And also imagine the length of the WiFi menu as you see every network in your city.
You keep focusing on "WiFi"....
Keep in mind that moderately high bandwidth two way ground to satellite communications (example: Iridium) have been around for more than 40 years (No, Iridium hasn't been around for 40 years, like I said, that's just ONE example).
Will it be "new" hardware for consumers? Yes.

IF there is anything to these stories, I suspect that the backers and builders have already considered the technical aspects, as well as the consumer affordability.

Given how many "Cubesats" that one Falcon Heavy launch could put into orbit, and how many Falcon Heavy launch vehichles that SpaceX can build per year... it's a real interesting proposal.