The cost of manufacturing and launching satellites is quite high, and their popularity is also limited. So, do you think “everyone can use satellite communications” is a distant future or a dream that is about to be realized?
If you have paid close attention to this field in recent years, you may have noticed that there used to be not many satellites in the sky, but in recent years there seems to have been a significant increase. According to Statista, there were less than 1,000 active satellites in 2010, more than 2,000 in 2018, and by 2022, this number is approaching 7,000.
So why do we need so many satellites?
The advancement of science and technology is of course one of the main factors, but more important is the “diversification of satellite types.” According to the operating altitude, satellites can be divided into four types: highly elliptical orbit satellites, synchronous satellites, medium-orbit satellites and low-orbit satellites. Each of these different types of satellites has its own specific uses and advantages, making satellite communications more popular and efficient.
Moss solved the communication problem on earth with telegraph, but on a cosmic scale, we still have a lot to work on.
With the development of satellite technology, satellite communications are gradually entering our daily lives and becoming an expected commercial service. However, we still face many challenges, such as low-orbit satellites that may affect astronomical observations, the increased risk of satellite collisions, and the problem of space debris. But maybe in the near future, every one of us will have easy access to satellite communications. Let us look forward to this potential future together!