Elon Musk wants internet on Mars, plans to set up Starlink-like system for interplanetary communication

SpaceX, led by Elon Musk, has unveiled an ambitious plan to extend its satellite communication technology to Mars. The new initiative, named “Marslink,” was presented during a NASA-hosted meeting by the Mars Exploration Program Analysis Group.

The vision is to create a robust network of satellites orbiting Mars, acting as a communication relay system that will support future missions and pave the way for eventual human settlement on the Red Planet. This development is a crucial part of Musk’s grander vision to facilitate interplanetary life and make Mars more accessible.

Marslink would be modelled after SpaceX’s successful Starlink project, which has already revolutionised internet connectivity on Earth. The Starlink network, consisting of thousands of satellites, currently provides internet service to over 102 countries, demonstrating the feasibility of such a large-scale satellite infrastructure.

More from Tech

How ChatGPT is becoming everyone’s BFF and why that’s dangerous America ready for self-driving cars, but it has a legal problem

SpaceX hopes to replicate this setup for Mars, ensuring reliable and efficient data transmission for rovers, human explorers, and any other Martian surface operations. By doing so, Marslink could play a key role in supporting NASA’s efforts to establish a sustainable exploration and colonisation framework for Mars.

However, SpaceX isn’t the only player in the game. Other industry giants are also pitching their solutions to bolster Martian communication systems. Blue Origin has introduced a concept called “Blue Ring,” an orbital tug designed to offer data relay services and in-space cloud computing. This project is slated for initial testing under the Pentagon’s DarkSky-1 mission, although an exact launch date remains unannounced.

Meanwhile, Lockheed Martin has presented an alternative approach involving the repurposing of NASA’s MAVEN spacecraft. Originally launched in 2013 to study the Martian atmosphere, MAVEN could be repositioned to serve as a communication hub, functioning similarly to NASA’s Deep Space Network on Earth. This would provide a cost-effective and efficient solution for data transmission between Mars and Earth.

Impact Shorts

More Shorts

America ready for self-driving cars, but it has a legal problem

Alibaba, Baidu begin using own AI chips as China shifts away from US tech amid Nvidia row

With NASA exploring various options, the competition for Martian communication infrastructure is heating up. SpaceX’s Marslink, if successful, would be a game-changer, providing consistent and reliable communication for the next era of Martian exploration and potentially accelerating humanity’s journey to becoming a multi-planetary species.