In the fight against forest fires, rescuers are assisted by Starlink satellite Internet from SpaceX. SpaceX has provided the Washington Emergency Management Department with the custom terminals it needs to connect to the Internet from Starlink. The system connects rural areas where rescuers are fighting forest fires to the Internet.
SpaceX plans to build a network of 12 thousand LEO satellites. This amount is necessary to ensure maximum Internet coverage of the entire planet. So far, SpaceX has launched 800 satellites, some of which have already been de-orbited. But most of them are functional. A beta test of the network has been scheduled in the Washington DC area.
The Washington Emergency Management Department uses SpaceX user terminals in two areas: near Malden in Washington state, devastated by wildfires, and in western Washington in another wildfire.
What exactly happened
Satellite Internet helps emergency services coordinate firefighting activities. They manage the discharge of water, direct requests when additional resources are needed. Now the Internet from Starlink is being used in Malden by the population rebuilding their homes. The agency believes that the system is applicable not only during forest fires, but also during other cataclysms, including forest earthquakes.
This is the first time that Starlink has been publicly used. SpaceX did not respond to CNN's request for comment, although Elon Musk responded to a tweet from the Washington Emergency Management Department. Musk said he was happy to help, and his company is focusing on places where there is no internet connection.
A fire engulfed the city of Malden on September 7, with 80% of houses destroyed, including the fire department, post office, city hall and library. Most of the telecommunications facilities in the city were also destroyed .
Why Starlink?
Starlink is a global satellite system being deployed by SpaceX. The project promises to provide high-speed broadband Internet access in hard-to-reach, remote locations and where previously it was simply impossible due to lack of infrastructure.
The company plans to launch an Internet access network in the northern United States and Canada in 2020, and in 2021 to expand its coverage to the entire planet.
At the end of their service life, Starlink satellites use an onboard propulsion system to de-orbit within a few months. If the satellites fail, they will burn up in the Earth's atmosphere in 1-5 years.
The weight of the compact flat satellites is 260 kg. Some of the satellites are visible from Earth with the naked eye. The satellites are powered by solar panels and are powered by ion engines powered by the inert gas krypton.
