But in every good thing there is a negative effect. The negative effect in this case is the “Risk of Asteroid Strike to Earth from Elon Musk’s Starlink Project Feared”. Sending the 42,000 satellites sure is ambitious, it also causes problems.  As said in the video the satellite is bright, and they end up looking like moving stars. This bright satellites interfere with what the astronomers view, they trick the astronomers thinking the satellites are Near Earth Objects but not. If Starlinks block the view of astronomers, they can not see the objects going directly at earth meaning they wont know if an asteroid strike will hit earth. Having the 42,000 satellites also has risk to hit or collide with each other, if this happens it would just be a waste of money doing or sending the 42,000 Starlinks. It would also lead to many debris around earth which is a really bad. Just like what I said it can block the view of astronomers.

 For my conclusion I think it is not bad to have Starlink. In my opinion it is such a good project that can lead to solving modern day problems. But having so many is not good or can harm us humans because of the risk of asteroid strikes and we won’t know when it comes because the satellites blocks the view. Elon Musk should make a starlink that will solve the problems stated in the video. I think Space X should make a starlink that can cover or provide internet for a whole country so that they wont have to make so many satellites. But yeah I know it is not easy as said. The Starlink project sure is so smart, it can make internet so easy to access for the ordinary person. It would really be like the future if Space X can accomplish their goal with starlink, but its just has so many problems. I am rooting for Starlink to be successful.


-Robosa, Venzel Radwin P.
8-Aristotle

Many of the satellites that are visible now were sent up in March but their current orbital position has made them easier to see over the past few days.

These satellites are also particularly bright because of their size and the proximity to Earth. Large satellites are usually sent into higher orbit. Low orbit satellites are usually smaller.Starlink satellites also have wide flat panels, which reflect light.

SpaceX is working on a "sunshade" that will reduce reflection of satellites sent in future launches.

 

  According to astronomers, the visibility of the satellites now is less of a problem for them than it will be as the constellation grows and becomes operational.

Currently, the spacecraft are in a parked orbit, but over the next few months, the craft will use on-board engines to move slighter further from the Earth and rotate their solar panels towards the Sun. That will make them less visible to the naked eye but could mean they cause light pollution for astronomers trying to take pictures of the farther reaches of space."Astronomers' cameras are designed to take pictures of really faint thing and bright light could ruin data," explained Dr Jonathan McDowell an astronomer at the Centre for Astrophysics, a research centre at Harvard University.

"I applaud the fact that [SpaceX] has really been trying to find ways to make them less bright," he said.

 

  But Dr McDowell added that there is another problem with the launch of so many new low orbit satellites - increased traffic.

The growing number of low orbit craft increases the possibility of crashes between objects which could damage machines or send materials falling back to earth.

SpaceX launches have continued despite Covid-19 lockdown across the United States, where SpaceX is based.Wednesday's launch from Cape Canaveral, Florida was the fourth for Starlink this year and the seventh time it has sent a large batch of the spacecraft into orbit.

John Mark H. Tiozon 8- Aristotle

  Elon Musk Plans on Launching 42,000 satellites to space. With this new way of global internet, it could reach areas where internet couldn’t be reached. But this also comes with a huge problem with astronomers. Starlink Constellations are so bright because they reflect sunlight back to Earth. This may seem cool but it's a major problem with Astronomers because these Satellites reflect light causing it to interfere with the astronomers view in hunting near Earth objects. This could also affect search for black holes and other nearby planets. SpaceX had to do something with it and it is called a DarkSat which is a satellite that has visors to block the shiny parts from reflecting back to Earth. DarkSats will be more of a problem because you will not see them causing more collisions of Satellites and those collisions can add up into Space Debris that will stay in orbit for the next few years. 

   To Conclude this, Elon Musk’s 42,000 Starlink Constellation will be a massive problem for Astronomers that hunt near Earth objects and Space Exploration as well if it’s not studied well. Some Scientists are now studying how we could safely use Starlink and still experience high speed internet across the world.

-Allan Jeruel B. Abuan

CEO of SpaceX Elon Musk announced Starlink back in 2015 about how they can bring satellite connections anywhere around the globe using 42,000 satellites making everyone accessible to the internet. This can be revolutionary since anyone anywhere (especially in rural areas), can have internet at speeds faster than even ground internet speeds (80-150mbps according to beta testers) which is a lot considering it isn’t even near their target amount of 42,000 satellites and their current amount being 3,300 as of now.

Now how can this be dangerous to the future of humanity? We all know that 42,000 is a big number, like, really big. Now, look at yourself and imagine that you have 10 cats right now, and multiply that amount of cats you have by 4,200. Yes, THAT big. So now, we know how big the number 42,000 is based on how many cats you have but how dangerous can this be? Well, satellites are made of metals and shiny material, so those shiny satellites can shine light to observatories leading to the pollution of light blocking possible near earth objects from being discovered by astronomers. It could actually delay the discovery of near earth objects such as asteroids, and since it is delayed, the chance of us stopping that near earth object colliding the earth would devastatingly take it’s toll. Not just that, but being able to uncover more of the universe’s secrets and discovering more about the depths of space might even become impossible with all the interference and light pollution seen in the telescope.

Yes, Starlink can bring us top of the line convenience and breakthrough internet speeds, but it can’t stop us to say that it can lead to dangerous lengths of setbacks such as delaying the discovery of near earth objects and the limiting amount to uncover about the truth of the universe. We can’t say that it’s hopeless though, over time, technology evolves. So, they can find a way of making the technology advanced enough to stop the interference of light, perhaps sending fewer more advanced satellites to maintain the same internet speeds. As for now though, I can say that the technology we have right now is not fit for the future since the plan of launching 42,000 satellites is simply too much and can lead to immense showering of reflected light to our observatories, so, it means that Elon Musk still needs to finish his homework for now.

Starlink is a satellite internet constellation operated by SpaceX, it’s purpose is to provide fast and low-latency internet access coverage wherever you may be in the globe. And this is done by launching tens of thousands of low Earth orbit (LEO) satellites up in space which communicate with designated ground transceivers. Of course, it is not yet capable of providing internet access anywhere in the globe since it is at an early stage. Fortunately though, as more and more satellites get launched, the coverage gets better as well as connection speeds and latency.

But as they say, “In every seed of good, there is always a piece of bad”. As beneficial as it may be to us, Starlink also brings up problems to the table. One problem is that these satellites are too reflective and can be mistaken for something else. Astronomers will have a hard time filtering out tens of thousands of satellites when tracking potentially deadly near-earth objects (NEOs) using their telescopes. And because their equipment is compromised due to these satellites, it will also make our chances of finding something new like some black holes, planets, stars, galaxies, etc. much slimmer than it already is. And the main problem is that there would simply be be too many of these satellites that it would block off our access to space.

In conclusion, this will be a massive leap forward for us. It can extend the access of our digital world to where it once was unaccessible. But the drawbacks outweigh the benefits. Learning more about things beyond our planet is more valuable than enjoying fast internet.

- Hosea T. Escaño
8 - Aristotle

For Mr. Musk’s plan to work, he needs to launch satellites close to the earth or what is commonly referred to as near-Earth objects (NEO). By doing so, the connection delay from the normal satellites can be reduced. However, this NEO does not only act as receiver and sender of data for global connectivity. Starlight satellites are bright because their bodies are made of metals which can reflect the sunlight or moonlight and shine it back towards Earth. Hence these near-Earth satellites will end up looking like bright moving stars. Though it may sound cool, this actually poses a big problem especially to our astronomers and astrophysicists who study the cosmos. Starlink satellites are most visible in the midnight sky which is the exact time when astronomers observe and locate near-Earth asteroids. If you have seen some end-of-the-world movies, a lot of “planet killer” asteroids are presented in them. Asteroids, small or big, pose danger to the Earth for they might possibly harm us. This means that the more satellites there are, the more objects will interfere with the astronomers view so we will be having a problem detecting these near-Earth asteroids and preventing them from hitting Earth. These satellites will also obstruct the search of black holes or even new planets which are important research areas for the scientific community. Although Mr. Musk also presented the possibility of DarkSat, a satellite that has all of its shiny parts coated in a very dark material, another disadvantage of launching tens of thousands of satellites near the Earth still remains. When we have too many satellites in close orbits around the Earth, there’s a high chance that those satellites could collide with each other and those crashes will create a cloud of debris that will orbit around Earth for decades or even for centuries. This problem can spiral out of control called the Kessler Syndrome. The probability of a Kessler Syndrome is very low but we cannot ignore the possibility because the repercussions are too big.

For me, whenever adults think of global progress, they must put into consideration first the safety of each of us. Global connectivity included should not be above safety and peace of mind. Every giant leap we make towards progress is important but so should be the consideration of the greater good.

- Jacob S. Daquioag
- 8-Aristotle

However, these project posed a great threats to mankind.  One of these problems poses danger for humanity, and that is starlink’s interference on astronomy. Due to multiple numbers of satellites and its disruptive light streaks, astronomers are having a hard time observing and scanning the space for near-earth asteroids and exploding stars. Thus, putting so many lives on danger. 

 

It can’t be denied that Starklink project can be called as one of the advanced technology that mankind have created. Though it is beneficial, there are still consequences that humans will not be able to handle (atleast for now). I am completely against the Starlink project, but since it has already started. Is it even worth it? Will humans be able to face the risks?

Aaron Mark B. Lalunio
8-Aristotle

I know for a fact that ELON MUSK is a well-known billionaire that all of you know. What you might not know is the division within Elon Musk's spaceflight company, the satellite internet venture aims to bring internet access to people around the world currently living without access to high-speed internet.

Introducing the so called “solution”, Project Starlink.

Starlink, operated by SpaceX is a satellite internet constellation. It provides satellite internet access to 45 countries! Its objective is to supply and offer high-speed internet to any nook and cranny around the world. 

Now this might seem like a gourmet dish served on a silver platter and it does catch your attention and interest. But do note that despite all the benefits it offers come the cons. Experts worry it may come at a heavy cost for space exploration. 
There has been an issue spreading around the metaverse or the well-known internet, wherein it states that Elon musk plans to barter internet access to every human being in the world by using a plethora of advanced satellites.

Their plan requires a huge amount of low earth orbit (LEO) satellites launched. As of early October, they have already launched more than 700 satellites with a plan to further release a total of 12,000 over the next 5 years. Yet, Musk still wants to add another 30,000 to that. That sums up to a total of 42,000 satellites circling our planet.

This reduces the connection delay that is evident in traditional internet satellites. The problem is, you need a plethora of satellites overhead to serve many users.

This brings up con number 1. 

- Starlink sattelites are BRIGHT. To the point that they are misinterepretated and seen as stars, this creates a problem. The time Starlink satellites are most visible is the same time astronomers hunt for NEOs (Near Earth objects) such as asteroids that are a possible torment and could most likely hit the earth and kill us. The more satellites we launch, the brighter they are and the higher chance to interfere with sky surveys. Compromising might lead to certain disasters as the scientists try to filter all the Starlink satellites. They are trying to create solutions to these concerns yet the technology needed for that does not currently exist.

Con number 2.

- Kessler syndrome.
Once again, due to the massive amount of deployed satellites, space debris expands in amount. This causes a strong possibility to trigger a collision. Since they have a chance to collide with each other, it reaches a point where it just creates more and more space debris.

Nonfunctioning satellites are likely to cause a chain reaction of long-lasting collisions since they cannot dodge collisions unlike what SpaceX has said. It would create a mass of debris that orbits the earth for centuries! Once we reach that, space is too unsafe to travel and access.
This DOES HAVE A LOW CHANCE OF HAPPENING, yet if it does happen, the impact of it is so high that repair is a big struggle if not impossible.

In the end, this will be a leap of faith for humanity. Yes, it is a huge help to us humans, like me who use the internet for my studies and other requirements. It helps people to communicate online, browse, gain knowledge, evolve, and more but nonetheless, no decisions are made without consequences.

Despite the benefit it holds, and the potential it has, this doesn't make it ethical for us to ignore the risks it comes with. It can extend a person's opportunity, and ruin it at the same time. It will open and close roads to the success of humanity. But we must choose what's logical!

As for my say on this issue, I am against the Starlink Project. For the simple explanation that; It serves more harm than benefit to existence.
The importance of the internet will never be equal to the importance of our lives. I don't think we'd die or perish without the internet! Despite being a daily necessity for our current era, it won't be required in a survival situation we could face.

Imagine yourself in the situation of the dinosaurs! do you think they'd choose the internet with the payment of extinction? No.

So think wisely. Let us face global dilemmas while prioritizing the well-being of humanity.

Feeling like the world is ending without the internet or access to digital platforms, yet when the internet is served in a better and faster way, it creates problems that can lead to an obvious risk of human extinction. Are you willing to lose our knowledge about upcoming LIFE-ENDING asteroids, or would u rather scroll on Twitter instead? Are you able to take the leap of faith and risk your life? Since it is already started, and going back is inevitable- Let's just hope it goes well and is successful.

But a reminder to all the people out there who disagrees with this risky plan.

Kim Ashnairah Lou B. Casipit
8-ARISTOTLE

 

Thinking what could tens of thousands of satellites orbiting the Earth possibly do to our planet? How do you assume it will affect us? and how will it help our living in a daily basis? 

 

You may be less familiar with Starlink, Musk's venture that aims to sell internet connections to almost anyone on the planet via a growing network of private satellites orbiting overhead. Well, the Starlink satellite constellation system aims to provide global internet coverage. This system is ideal for rural and geographically isolated areas where internet access is unreliable or non-existent. As of now, you may be wondering how does Starlink work? Well, Starlink uses satellite internet service technology that has been in existence for decades. Instead of using cable technology like fiber optics to transmit internet data, a satellite system sends radio signals through space. Ground stations send signals to satellites in orbit, which then relay the information to Starlink users on Earth. 

 

Based on the video I've watched and the research I've done, Starlink's goal is to simply build a low-latency network in space to facilitate edge computing on Earth. The task of building a global network in space is not easy, especially given the importance of low latency and to meet this demand, SpaceX has proposed a constellation of nearly 42,000 tablet-size satellites circling the globe in low orbit.

 

Starlink now offers services throughout 37 countries around the world, but the budding broadband provider still has a backlog of prospective customers waiting for equipment and service to begin. However, Starlink is not the only potential candidate in the space race, with OneWeb, HughesNet, Viasat, and Amazon as competitors. Since 1996, HughesNet has provided signal coverage from 22,000 miles above the Earth, but Starlink takes a slightly different approach. And as we all expected, Starlink is not free of controversy. Members of the scientific community have expressed concern about the impact of Starlink's low-Earth orbit satellites on night sky visibility. Meanwhile, competitors in satellite internet, such as Viasat, HughesNet, and Amazon's Project Kuiper, have noticed Starlink's success, prompting regulatory feuding and attempts to slow Musk down. 

 

And to make things clearer, let us start at the very beginning. Starlink is technically a division of SpaceX, but it is also the name of the spaceflight company's expanding network of orbital satellites, or "constellation," which began development in 2015 and was launched into orbit in 2018. In the years since, SpaceX has successfully launched thousands of Starlink satellites into the constellation, the most recent of which took place on Oct. 27 and delivered another 53 satellites into low-Earth orbit. The total number of satellites in orbit now stands at just over 3,200. 

 

Even though Starlink may be beneficial to us, it also brings up problems. One issue is that these satellites are overly reflective and can be misidentified as something else. When using telescopes to track potentially dangerous near-Earth objects (NEOs), astronomers will have a difficult time filtering out tens of thousands of satellites. Because their equipment is compromised as a result of these satellites, our chances of discovering something new, such as black holes, planets, stars, galaxies, and so on, are even slimmer than they are now. When it comes to providing broadband internet to underserved areas, we can’t deny that Starlink has been a game changer. But the last major disadvantage in my list is the penalty that comes with being an early adopter of new technology. People who signed up for Starlink in the first few months faced numerous network reliability issues, instability, and performance fluctuations. Even today, the service is still in its infancy. The specifications and policies are still being revised. One good example is the recent implementation of a soft data cap in the US. Starlink's soft data cap is an attempt to alleviate the congestion issues mentioned earlier on this list. If you were a Starlink customer during this transition, you may have experienced a roller coaster ride. The service was originally advertised as unlimited, but changes are being made to account for performance issues. Being an early adopter implies that you are purchasing a service that is not yet fully polished.

 

To summarize, this will be a significant step forward for us. Our digital world may now be accessible in places where it was previously unavailable. However, the disadvantages outnumber the benefits. But I believe learning more about the world beyond our planet is more valuable than possessing fast internet.

Vinestrella Camposagrado, 8-Aristotle.

The founder of SpaceX, Elon Musk, declared way back in 2015 about their plan to send 42,000 satellites into the earth’s orbit in order for everyone to have access to the internet. This is an advantage since anyone can use this network, especially in commune areas that do not have access to the internet. It has the ability to reach places underground that normal wires cannot. Considering that a normal satellite travels 35,785 miles, creating so much lag—and that is just one satellite— But on the other hand, although this can make all people around the globe go online, there is still a disadvantage that experts are concerned about. According to astronomer John McDowell, the science community should have rejected these kinds of projects. because this can make asteroid hunting much harder. Given that satellites are made out of metal, this can provide a massive amount of sunlight that can block the viewpoints of astronomers. This matter can affect the discovery of NEOs (near-Earth objects) like meteors, asteroids, and comets. This is cause for concern because it may delay new discoveries in our atmosphere and the discovery of hidden secrets in our space.

I admit this project is a big step for us humans because nearly half of the world’s population does not have access to the internet. This is for us to have a more reliable option in a network that can help us in our daily lives. Project Starlink offers fast internet access that everybody can use. But even though this project is ambitious, there are still shortcomings Musk needs to work on. Yes, it is convenient, but it cannot stop the adventure of exploring the depths of space. I believe that this kind of discovery can’t replace what you see or search for on the internet.

Reyes, Princess Angela M. 
8- Aristotle

 

Not only that but it heightens the risk of asteroids hitting earth. Because of the thousands of satellites that are now in the earth’s orbit, floating near earth objects may interfere with these; bumping, hitting, and possible crashing these satellites. These possible events is a huge thumbs down, especially that the debris and waste scraps from the starlink project will only worsen the oceans condition. Harming not only the people but also the amazing aquatic creatures in our ocean. The asteroids that may hit the earth will cause great impact, which will surely harm all living things.

 

Are we really ready for jumping far more into improving our internet connections? When we can’t even fix the problems the world is experiencing now. Yes, in the future we might have a need to faster and much more reliable internet. For now, we must engage more in providing and giving care to what we have as resources that will help us in making the right decisions. Nevertheless, what we really need to sustain now is our present, slowly moving towards to our future. 

 

Chazelle Meljay E. Gregorio 

8-ARISTOTLE