New images found in SpaceX’s Starlink website code show the official look of the company’s future user satellite terminals – the antennas that customers will use to take advantage of the massive constellation of Internet satellites from the space SpaceX is building. . The white, disk-shaped device looks like a “UFO on a stick,” as SpaceX CEO Elon Musk once described.
Musk apparently confirmed that the images from the user terminals were real on Twitter after responding to a user who had posted the images. “The Starlink terminal has motors to self-orient for an optimal viewing angle,” he said. “No expert installer required.” He also noted that the design of the terminal had changed slightly. The “latch on the pole near the base” is no longer there, he said, and the Ethernet cable seen sticking out of the bracket is “less annoying” in the final version that SpaceX will sell to customers. However, the images are largely aligned with the images of the terminals that had been leaked on Reddit in June.
SpaceX did not respond to an official request for comment.
These user terminals are a critical part of SpaceX’s Starlink initiative, which aims to provide global coverage of the Internet from space. The company has permission from the Federal Communications Commission to put nearly 12,000 Starlink satellites into orbit around Earth, a swarm of spacecraft that would cover the globe and transmit broadband internet connectivity to the surface below. To access the satellite system, customers will need to purchase these small “UFOs” to receive broadband signals from satellites and connect to the Internet.
So far, SpaceX has put nearly 600 Starlink satellites into orbit. However, Musk has previously claimed that SpaceX only needs 400 satellites to provide “initial operational capacity” and then 800 satellites to achieve “significant operational capabilities.” SpaceX has been launching its Starlink satellites in batches of approximately 60 spacecraft, with another launch planned in the coming days or weeks.
Meanwhile, SpaceX is about to launch the beta version of Starlink, which would allow approved users to test an early version of the system. In June, SpaceX updated its Starlink website, allowing interested potential customers to sign up to receive updates on the program and learn about availability in their area. When people provided their zip code and contact information, they received an email from SpaceX saying that private beta testing is expected to begin “later this summer,” followed by public beta testing for high-altitude individuals.
Now, we have even more details on how that private beta program would work, thanks to further research on the code on the Starlink website. A Reddit user / u / Bubby4j found the “terms of service” for the private beta program, as well as a frequently asked questions page for first time users. The edge confirmed that the text and images were available but hidden on the Starlink website. The code revealed that SpaceX plans to provide beta testers with a “Starlink kit,” which would consist of one of the Starlink antenna terminals, a Wi-Fi router, a power supply, and supports for the system. Users will have to install the terminal themselves, placing it somewhere with a “clear view of the northern sky.” The code revealed a PDF for the installation guide, but it’s blank for now.
By accepting the kit, users must agree to test the Starlink system for 30 minutes to an hour each day and provide feedback to SpaceX about their experiences. They must also agree to keep their experience confidential. “You may NOT discuss your participation in the Beta Program online or with those outside your home, unless they are SpaceX employees,” the website states.
The FAQ page revealed even more details about what users can expect and how to use their terminals. SpaceX said the beta program will begin in the northern United States and southern Canada, beginning with those who live in rural communities in Washington state. Beta testers won’t have to pay for their terminals, though they will be charged a $ 1 fee to test SpaceX’s billing system. The company also noted that internet connectivity may not be as easy at first.
“During Starlink Beta, the service will be intermittent as teams work to optimize the network,” says SpaceX on the website. “When connected, the quality of your service will be high, but your connection will not be consistent. This means it can support streaming video with a little bit of buffering, but it’s probably not suitable for gaming or business purposes. “
Since all of this information comes from the code on the Starlink website, this information may change. Meanwhile, users who signed up to receive updates on the Starlink website recently received emails asking for their addresses, so that SpaceX improves its “ability to provide location-specific updates as our network develops.”
