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Charity Raising Money To Buy Used Satellite
Zothecula writes "For those of us who live in the developed world, internet access has become pretty much a given. It's become so ubiquitous that we almost expect to have it at all times and in all places, but even in this 'Information Age,' the majority of the world's population lacks access to the internet – either because service isn't available where they are, or they can't afford it. Kosta Grammatis has a plan, however. Through his charity group ahumanright.org, Grammatis aims to set up a network of satellites that will provide free internet access to everyone in the world. He's starting by attempting to buy a single used satellite that's already in orbit and moving it to a location above a developing country."
...with a satellite receiver and a computer. Oh, and electricity. And probably enough food and water not to die before they get online.
Buying a used satellite is like buying a used bus... the only reason someone would sell it is because it has become cheaper to buy a new one than to maintain the old one!
I've abandoned my search for truth; now I'm just looking for some useful delusions.
These guys de-value what a human right actually is with this silly notion. It's simply a service, one that must be paid for, maintained and serviced.
Nuff said.
The moment some impoverished person starts sharing a shitty screener of True Grit, the MPAA will have a missile launched at the satellite.
Trolling is a art,
As soon as they get a couple 100,000 users (most of which will likely be in developed nations, just don't wanna pay) they'll figure out a way to start charging. No ISP is free.
If we had the satelites above then it might be possible to bypass the kill switch in any country. Remove the Kill Switch option through parallel paths.
Interestingly enough, Tonga is also the location that Interorbital Systems decided would serve best for their launch site because the country was so friendly to the idea of developing the space industry. Each time I hear about it I learn a little bit more about this interesting little country.
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I'm glad someone else posted this. Is it even possible to a geosynchronous satellite?
One time I accidentally a whole geosynchronous satellite.
Yes, commercial satellites can be moved to different orbital positions and occasionally are. For example to replace a failed satellite with an in-orbit spare or to deploy it to a new market or even to kick it out of its orbital slot at the end of its life. However, it may deplete the station keeping fuel (perhaps hydrazine gas) which may mean it then has less fuel to remain on station and hence a reduced residual service lifetime. I say may, because it may be that a highly inclined (ie, allowed to drift off-position) orbit is quite acceptable and can be tracked form the ground for this purpose and so something running on the last fumes of hydrazine might suffice. Or maybe the satellite they buy has an alternative propulsion system (ion drive perhaps).
It seems to me that a satellite with plenty of fuel remaining might not fall into the clunker category; so if they're looking for something with more than 5 or so years of life they might do much better to ask a university to launch something tailored to their exact need, maybe into low earth orbit.
Nullius in verba
Buying a used satellite is like buying a used bus... the only reason someone would sell it is because it has become cheaper to buy a new one than to maintain the old one!
If you believe that, you don't know anything about the satellite communications business.
I've been working at this for over a quarter of a century, and let me tell you that there are many factors that would influence buying a used satellite.
- How much remaining lifetime does it have?
- Do I need it right now, or can I wait the 2 years+ it would take to build a new one?
- Is it in inclined orbit?
- What's the coverage footprint?
- What's the frequency plan?
- What's the EIRP?
- What's the receive G/T?
- Do I have the landing rights?
- Does it have failed transponders, or any other failure?
It often happens that one has a satellite that will be perfect for someone else, but for our own specific purpose we need a replacement.
The Internet is a right. Finland made it a legal right. The UN says it's a human right. French courts have ruled it's a fundamental right. The US told Egypt it's a right. 80% of Earthers polled say it's a right.
Cutting off people's communications to dull their abilty to wage politics is one of those things no government should have the right to do. And that means that the internet is a right.
Now, since the internet requires infrastructure, there's some question as to how it gets built out to you, but that's logistics, not law. Nobody said the "free" in "freedom" meant "gratis". Once you have access to it, the government can't arbitrarily take that away. That's what rights are.
There's a reason our society has progressed to the point of having internet access almost everywhere -- it has been built on all the things that came before it. We developed clean drinking water systems, sanitation, roads, markets, all of which lead us to a point where we not only had the tech to have internet everywhere -- but also the time to use it since we don't have to worry about all the other things.
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The Buy This Satellite site was mentioned on The Register a couple of months ago; that's the fundraising site for this project. I'll let The Register article speak for itself as far as casting doubt on the viability, but I think you get the gist from the headline; "Crazed buy-a-satellite-for-the-poor scheme raises $16k - Only a $hitload and a clue to find now"
Oh no... it's the future.