"Quest for Supremacy: The Battle for Space Dominance"

'The Ongoing Struggle for Space Dominance"
Race to Internet Supremacy in space begins: Musk Vs Bezos

Around two years back, in 2021, SpaceX , the company of Second Richest Man of the World – Elon Musk has uplifted 143 satellites in one go and creates history to put highest satellite in space. Just before two days, SpaceX has also put 60 satellites in orbit through its Falcon-9 rocket. So, SpaceX has put more than 200 satellites within just a week. In total, Starlink, the company of Elon Musk, has set up more than 1000 satellites in orbit of the Earth Space.

Battle for Space Dominance

In total, USA has highest number of Satellites in Space that is Approx. 1300 and currently, India has only approx. 60 operational satellites are in space. By these numbers, can you imagine, even single company ‘Starlink’ has more number of satellites than any Country. What this company want to do ? What is the plan or idea behind it ?

The simple answer is: It wants to give or planning to provide internet connectivity.

In general, Internet throughout the world has been provided by submarine cables laid under the Sea. Only minor portion of the internet has been provided by Satellite or over ground cables. So, we can provide internet through Satellites in the interior areas of the world where internet connectivity could not possible by submarine cables or overhead cables.

And Elon Musk has started to put satellites in space one by one and has planned to be future ready by set up the whole network of Satellites in Low Earth Orbit (LEO). The main advantage to Musk is that he has own Space company (SpaceX), own Satellite launch Vehicle (Falcon series rockets), own Lauchpad, own launching facilities and his own satellite making company (Starlink). He has invested billions of Dollars in his these ventures and started the Private Sector Space Race.

The US Government has already given him approval to launch these satellites. His company has planned to put approx. 12000 satellites in the space and want to establish a flock of satellites in Earth lower orbit and this is possible due to the size of the satellites. The company is also planning to increase this number by approx. 30000 satellites in future.

Communication through Satellite

In this case, Jeff Bezos, the owner of Amazon, is the strongest competitor of the Elon Musk because both of them are planning to make powerful rockets, private space tourism, Mars mission etc. from last more than 10 years. Like musk, Bezos alos do not have money or investment issues but musk himself is a scientist and engineer. So, obviously Elon Musk is more advance in this race. Even, SpaceX has already received contract from NASA and has been started to deliver the necessary luggage to International Space Station (ISS).

Kuiper Systems LLC, a subsidiary of Amazon, better known by its project name ‘Project Kuiper’ is planning the same goal that is providing the internet through Satellite. After continuous launch by Elon musk, Amazon has registered complain in Federal Trade Commission that SpaceX is in the edge of using the orbital space allotted to us to put up the satellite.

There is no dearth of space in the Sky but dearth of orbital space for satellite is obvious. Till date, Amazon has not put any satellite in the orbit but it has decided 590 Km orbit for its satellites. Musk has taken permission from US Government for 540 km to 590 km orbital space for his satellites. When his project has been started, at that time higher orbital space has been decided. But now, out of 12000 satellites, he wants to put 3000 satellites in the lower orbits.

And so, Amazon has complained that permission must not be given to Musk otherwise both of their satellites may be collide with each other. Even, it will be possible that enough space may not be available for more satellites. Amazon has already taken permission form US Government for more than 3000 satellites in lower orbit and now Musk poised to make trouble for Amazon.

Company	No. of Satellites Planned
Starlink	12000
Kuiper Systems	3236
OneWeb	650
TeleSat	298

Apart from SpaceX-Starlink and Amazon-Kuiper Systems, many other companies like Facebook, LeoSat and Boeing etc. are already planning to put their satellites in the space.

The complaint of Amazon is valid as if Satellites may not collide but chances are that it may create signal disruptions. Over the top, this conflict between the two business tycoons looks normal but it may not be as simple as you think. It is the war of supremacy over the future Space market of approx. USD 1 trillion.

It is the right of any country to use the Space but in future, it may cause trouble for any country. It may be possible that any country try to put the satellite in space but there is no suitable orbital space available for their satellites. After all, it may also increase space debris and as said problem of signal disturbance arises.

Anyway, there is always new challenges associated with new opportunities in new fields. May be, we will see science-fiction like drama and stories in the coming years.

Note: The details are taken from article published in newspaper.

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