How Elon Musk's Internet Works: The Principles of the Starlink Network Elon Musk's Internet, provided by SpaceX under the Starlink brand, is not a traditional satellite connection but a fundamentally new low-orbit satellite system. Its key distinction and advantage lies in the use of thousands of small satellites placed in low Earth orbit at altitudes of 350 to 550 kilometers. This is 60-80 times closer to the Earth's surface than the geostationary satellites used in classical systems. This proximity drastically reduces signal latency, making it comparable to terrestrial broadband connections. Constellation architecture: low orbit and massiveness The foundation of Starlink technology is a scalable constellation of thousands of interconnected satellites. Each satellite weighs about 300 kilograms and is equipped with four powerful phased array antennas, as well as ion thrusters on krypton for orbit maneuvering and deorbiting at the end of its service life. Satellites move in different orbital planes, forming a global network covering virtually the entire surface of the planet. The massiveness of the constellation ensures redundancy and robustness: if one satellite fails, its function is immediately taken over by neighboring satellites. This also allows the system to serve millions of subscribers simultaneously, dynamically reallocating bandwidth between areas with high user density. Signal routing: from the user dish to the global network The operation of the system for the end user begins with a compact phased array antenna known as the "dish" Starlink. This device does not require precise manual alignment — it automatically determines the position above the horizon with the densest coverage and electronically forms a beam, tracking passing satellites. The signal from the user terminal is sent to the nearest satellite. Then comes the most innovative part: satellites communicate with each other using laser inter-satellite links. These laser links create a high-speed w ... Read more