Elon Musk claimed he would use SpaceX Starlink in order to provide internet service to Tonga. However, he retracted the offer soon after making it.
Tonga was destroyed by a volcanic eruption on January 15, which produced a force equal to 500 atomic bombs. The volcano knocked out internet access for at least the next month.
Musk tweeted Friday that he wanted people from Tonga to let SpaceX know whether they feel it important for SpaceX’s Starlink terminals to be sent over.
Shortly after receiving the proposal, Dr Shane Reti (MP based in Whangarei) wrote to Musk asking whether his space-based Internet could benefit the Tonga people.
Everything was perfect until Musk announced that it was ‘a difficult thing for us right now’
Musk claimed that SpaceX doesn’t have enough satellites for Tonga, but the company does boast 2,000 devices orbiting the Earth.
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Elon Musk stated that he would use SpaceX Starlink for internet access to Tonga’s small island country, but he then retracted his statement shortly afterwards.
One in every 1,000 year, a volcano produced a “massive blast”.
The tsunami that resulted from the earthquake of 7.4 magnitude shook the island. It caused it to become ashes covered and was cut off from external help.
At least 3 people were killed in the explosion that sent tsunami waves through the Pacific. It also disrupted communications throughout the country of approximately 105,000 residents.
On Saturday in the US waves exceeding four feet were observed along California’s coastline. In Canada, tsunami-effect waves were also recorded along Canada’s Pacific Coast in Oregon and Washington.
Shortly after receiving the proposal, Dr Shane Reti (MP based in Whangarei) wrote to Musk asking whether his space-based Internet could benefit the Tonga people.
Everything was perfect until Musk announced that it wasn’t possible to make the announcement right away. Musk stated that SpaceX did not have sufficient internet satellites to support the Tonga people. However, the company currently has over 2,000 devices on Earth’s orbit.
Musk was quick to offer his Starlink satellite internet to SpaceX, and SpaceX needed to transfer the satellites from Tonga to them.
This is the root of our problem.
Soon after offering internet beaming down, the billionaire wrote: “We don’t currently have enough satellites with laser connections and we already have geo sats to serve the Tonga Region.”
Geo satellites can be used to forecast the weather, broadcast satellite radio or television.
Musk was quick to offer his Starlink satellite internet to SpaceX, and SpaceX needed to transfer the satellites from Tonga to them.
Musk cannot move his Starlinks into Tonga because of the geo-sats.
Christina tweeted that the conversation was being moderated by a user named Christina. She said, “Starlink needs to have a ground station for satellites to get internet access.”
“But it is impossible to establish a ground station on Tonga, as the underwater cable is not in order.”
Although telephone links between Tonga, the United States, and Tonga were restored late Wednesday night, the only undersea communication cable owner indicated that it could take up to a month to restore full internet connectivity.
It caused a “massive explosion” that occurs once per thousand years. The volcano generated a 7.4 magnitude earthquake that sent tsunami waves into the island. It also cut off access to outside assistance.
According to Telecom operator Digicel, full network service will not be possible until the cable undersea is repaired. Samiuela Fonua is the chairman of Tonga Cable Ltd. He stated that an expert ship would be embarking on a repair cruise from Port Moresby over the weekend.
He said that it would be “lucky” if the task is completed within one month, given the eight-to-nine days of sailing required to get equipment from Samoa.
“It might be longer than that,” he stated via telephone, from Auckland where he had been co-ordinating repair.
NASA and astronauts on the International Space Station (ISS), also witnessed the massive explosion. NASA has shared a photo taken from NASA Cupola windows showing a blanket made of ash by plumes that have emitted thousands of feet into space.
Kayla Barron, a NASA astronaut, took the pictures as she flew over New Zealand (1200 miles) from the location of the volcano. She was looking down at the Earth from 253 miles up
“The cables actually lie around the volcano zone. We don’t know … whether they are intact, or blown away, or stuck somewhere underwater. It’s not known if the remains are buried further.
NASA and astronauts on the International Space Station (ISS), also witnessed the massive explosion. NASA has shared a photo taken from NASA Cupola windows showing a blanket covered in ash from plumes that have been spewing thousands upon thousands into the atmosphere.
These pictures were taken by NASA astronaut Kayla Baron while the station was passing over New Zealand (1,200 miles) from the location of the volcano. The images are viewed from 253 miles up above the Earth.
On Sunday, Astronaut Barron “opened the window” to the Cupola and observed the eruption’s effects. She pulled out her camera in order to capture them.
‘Ash from Saturday’s underwater volcanic eruption in the remote Pacific nation of Tonga made its way thousands of feet into the atmosphere & was visible from @Space_Station,’ Barron shared in a tweet on her personal Twitter account.