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To link - Concerns about its impact on the earth and territorial sovereignty

Concerns about Starlink center on its constellation of low Earth orbit (LEO) satellites. These pose risks for astronomical observation, electromagnetic interference, and potential satellite collisions. The danger of creating space debris at high speeds of 25,000 km/h, known as the Kessler syndrome .. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kessler_syndrome , could result in impacts between orbiting satellites. Additionally, environmental issues associated with numerous launches ..https://www.space.com/starlink-satellite-reentry-ozone-depletion-atmosphere , such as how rocket propellant exhaust gases interact with the atmosphere, are mentioned. These problems, combined, raise alarms about the prudence of deploying massive satellite constellations.

Andrew Falle .. https://www.space.com/million-satellites-congest-low-earth-orbit-study-shows , a researcher at the Outer Space Institute of the University of British Columbia, warns that if even a fraction of the planned millions of satellites are launched, it will be imperative to establish national and international regulations to address sustainability challenges. These challenges include collision risks, light pollution, and re-entry hazards. In an interview addressing the mega constellations of launches until October of this year, Falle highlights the significant figure of 5000 Starlink satellites, 630 from OneWeb, 2 from Kuiper, an additional 3000 .. https://www.theverge.com/2019/5/29/18642577/spacex-starlink-satellite-constellation-astronomy-light-pollution .. from Starlink with Amazon, and 1 Cinnamon-937 from Rwanda. This amount, plus the other satellites in orbit, adds up to a total of 337,320 units to date.

The sustainability of orbital space .. https://www.businessinsider.es/satelites-starlink-pueden-impedir-estudio-vida-extraterrestre-1277190 .. is threatened by mega satellite constellations, as, on one hand, they would further complicate efforts to detect and track asteroids and comets that could pose risks to humans. This includes impacts at local, regional, or even threats to the survival of the entire species.

There’s also the sustainability and lifespan of these satellites. The average lifespan of a Starlink satellite is about 5 years. Due to their proximity to Earth, Starlink offers low-latency connectivity, but the satellites are more affected by atmospheric drag. To counter this, low Earth orbit satellites require periodic propulsion adjustments to maintain their trajectory, limiting their lifespan based on the amount of fuel they can carry.

There’s also significant concern about the massive deployment of Starlink satellites covering the skies without regulatory intervention from affected countries. With more Starlink satellites in orbit than all others combined, the lack of an effective regulatory framework allows space to be exploited by the first comer. Starlink seems to aspire to establish a de facto regulatory framework through its presence.

The issue of national sovereignty in space is not new, as in 1976, there was an attempt to establish sovereignty over geostationary orbits. Although the Bogotá Declaration .. https://bogotadeclaration.wordpress.com/declaration-of-1976/ .. was unsuccessful, it highlighted the complexity of equitable access to space. Today, only a few countries and an inter-governmental organization can launch rockets into space, challenging the idea that space should be free for all. The current situation with low Earth orbit (LEO) satellites presents similar challenges, as the intensive use of certain orbital regions could exclude other actors, potentially violating the 1967 Outer Space Treaty .. https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tratado_sobre_el_espacio_ultraterrestre .

Who sustains this business model?

In an article by Steve Song called “Starlink and Inequality” .. https://manypossibilities.net/2023/11/starlink-and-inequality/ , the author highlights that one of Starlink’s most attractive features is its affordable price for end users, with monthly subscription rates varying significantly between countries, ranging from 25 to 100 dollars. However, the hardware costs, ranging from 200 to 650 dollars for the Starlink terminal, equate it with the prices of monthly residential Internet service fees in North America, albeit with higher equipment costs. Despite this, for the Global Majority, these rates remain unaffordable, limiting its accessibility to a small segment of the population.

The uncertainty about whether Starlink’s prices reflect its real costs raises questions. Traditionally, what a company charged for a service included the provider’s costs plus a profit margin. However, the landscape has changed with the influence of venture capital, challenging this logic with the drive for scale and prioritization of future profits. It remains to be seen if Starlink, like companies such as Uber ..https://manypossibilities.net/2023/11/starlink-and-inequality/ , is strategically reducing prices to gain market share.

In the current situation, Starlink earned revenues of 1.4 billion dollars in 2022. They had projected having 20 million subscribers in 2022, but by September 2023, they had 2 million. Before achieving profitability, Starlink faces a challenging path. It is speculated that the financial survival of Starlink’s business model might depend on a combination of military contracts and government subsidies, a strategy that, while plausible, remains subject to the unpredictability of its owner, Elon Musk. Given Musk’s volatile nature, there’s a possibility that governments might prefer to have full control over military satellite constellations.

[Insert: So Musk's Starlink contracts are safe for some years, but...]

In summary, Starlink faces significant challenges in its pursuit of profitability. Its limited focus on rural areas with a comparatively prosperous population excludes urban markets where competitive services already exist. Although it has received permits to operate in several Latin American and African countries, commercial viability in this region is questionable due to limited payment capabilities in rural areas .. https://manypossibilities.net/2023/11/starlink-and-inequality/ . Despite its theoretical utility for rural Internet service providers, Starlink faces future profitability challenges that may end up raising rates. Although Elon Musk claimed that Starlink reached profitability in November 2023, the reality might be different, as financial sustainability depends on Musk’s ongoing investments.

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