SpaceX recently announced that it had sent its first post on Elon Musk’s social media platform X using its direct-to-cell satellites.
This technology allows direct connections to the internet on smartphones via satellites.
Likewise, SpaceX launched a total of six direct-to-cell satellites back in January, and more will follow.
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As Musk always does, he posted on X, but this time, it was sent through one of the Direct-to-Cell satellites instead.
This post was made from a normal mobile phone straight to a SpaceX satellite, with no special equipment in between! https://t.co/rjry9vr5zj
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) February 26, 2024
Starlink, the entity behind these satellites, wants everyone to have seamless access to texts, voice calls, and the internet, no matter where they are.
By having a direct connection using these satellites, SpaceX wants to eliminate dead zones.
If you sometimes get no service at certain locations that have limited to no connectivity, that won’t be a problem when many more of these satellites are deployed.
Hence, the company plans to have a large fleet of 21 satellites in the foreseeable future.
So, when can you use it?
Elon Musk’s SpaceX aims to launch its Direct to Cell service for consumers later this year.
Also, we should point out that Starlink satellites are technically available to anyone.
All they have to do is buy the portable ‘router’ called Starlink Roam.
What’s special about these satellites is that there are no intermediaries or special equipment involved.
Essentially, it means that your phone and the satellite are the only two things required for connectivity.
To prove the direct-to-cell satellites’ capability, Ben Longmier, the Senior Director of Satellite Engineering at SpaceX, posted a picture of a tree cover in the Santa Cruz Mountains from where they used the new satellites to chat with each other on X.
The SpaceX team just completed the first post on X from a phone to one of our Direct to Cell satellites!
— Ben Longmier (@longmier) February 26, 2024
This was the tree cover in a small valley in the Santa Cruz Mountains earlier in the day when we were exchanging some DMs on X. https://t.co/KFl1fZ9pvH pic.twitter.com/pzveDbSn8P
SpaceX also wants to partner with wireless service providers like T-Mobile (USA), Rogers (Canada), Optus (Australia) to provide this service worldwide.
Things are looking for bright for SpaceX, especially since the company is now working with NASA to set up a base on the moon.