• Home
  • News
  • Artificial Intelligence
  • Internet of Things
  • Open Source
  • Hardware
  • Software
  • Security
  • Whitepapers
  • Industry Voice
  • Data Strategy Spotlight
  • Newsletters
  • Whitepapers
    • Inqlogo 120x194
      Five things you should look for in choosing a Testing provider

      Choosing a Testing Partner can be complex.  So what do you look for?  This guide offers insight into the qualities you must look for in choosing a Testing provider.  Download now to learn more.

      Download
      Inqlogo 120x194
      Your questions answered: How to protect your data in the cloud

      The number of successful cyberattacks per year per company has increased by 46% over the last four years. But what really needs to be considered when exploring a solution? What questions need to be asked? Download to find out...

      Download
      Find whitepapers
      Search by title or subject area
      View all whitepapers
  • Follow us
    • Twitter
    • Newsletters
    • Facebook
  • Newsletter
  • Industry Voice
  • Data Strategy Spotlight
The Inquirer
The Inquirer
  • Home
  • News
  • Artificial Intelligence
  • Internet of Things
  • Open Source
  • Hardware
  • Software
  • Security
  • Trending
  • General election
  • Huawei sues FCC
  • Xerox vs HP
  • Galaxy S11
  • McAfee 2020
The Inquirer
  • Hardware

Musk makes 420 joke as he teases 60 'Starlink' universal internet satellites

They'll be literally, like, floating on air, man

Musk makes 420 joke as he teases 60 'Starlink' universal internet satellites
'Lads! I've had an idea! A huge array of satellites! Pass the Hobnobs..."
  • Chris Merriman
  • Chris Merriman
  • @ChrisTheDJ
  • 13 May 2019
  • Tweet  
  • Facebook  
  •  
  •  
  • Send to  
0 Comments

POT SMOKING, Grimes snogging, possible-alien car salesman Elon Musk has revealed his next big idea to fix mankind - an array of satellites that will girdle the globe to provide a global WiFi hotspot.

The first array of 60 is just the beginning, and there'll need to be six times that in order to provide a basic service. In the end, that figure will be nearer 12,000 before the service can compete with existing delivery methods.

7x60=420.

Given that Elon has a bit of a history with regards to his relationship with that particular number (both his pot-smoking podcast antics and his notorious '$420 per share' tweet) he couldn't resist a reference on Twitter:

That *might* not be my lucky 🍀 number

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) May 12, 2019

Musk had posted 60 'Starlink' satellites, neatly stacked inside a SpaceX Falcon 9 Rocket, ready for launch on Wednesday, at which time we'll get the full skinny on the service which could mean the internet gets 40 times faster than the one we know.

It's all a bit pie-in-sky right now, but Musk's first launch represents a significant show of intent for potential investors.

"Much will likely go wrong on 1st mission" added Musk in an expectation managing exercise, code for 'it might actually just blow up on the launchpad'.

The idea of a global satellite network for the internet is not a new one, and let's be honest here, the execution doesn't generally end well.

Look at Doctor Who's the 'Archangel Network', which is exactly the same premise and turned out to be both a mind control device to help the cybermen and then again to convince people to vote for The Master. And don't get us started on Skynet from the Terminator films. Not exactly a ringing endorsement, is it? μ

Further reading

  • Friction
Elon Musk makes a terrible, terrible noise in praise of Harambe
  • 01 Apr 2019
  • Friction
Elon Musk is in trouble with the SEC again after 'inaccurate' Tesla tweet
  • 26 Feb 2019
  • Friction
Elon Musk's Boring Company drops plans to dig under LA's west side
  • 29 Nov 2018
  • Boffin Watch
Homesick Elon Musk is '70 per cent' likely to go back to Mars, even if it kills him
  • 26 Nov 2018
  • Tweet  
  • Facebook  
  •  
  •  
  • Send to  
  • Topics
  • Hardware
  • Infrastructure
  • communications
  • elon musk
  • spacex
  • 420
  • Satellite
  • internet

INQ Latest

Comet Lake-S leaks keep hitting earth
Intel Comet Lake-S leak teases AMD-chasing six-core Core i5-10600

Hype for HyperThreading

  • Chips
  • 13 December 2019
Apple's parental controls in iOS 13.3 can be easily bypassed
Apple's parental controls in iOS 13.3 can be easily bypassed

Hey kids, leave them iPhones alone

  • Software
  • 13 December 2019
Opera GX brings gaming-led browsing to macOS
Opera GX brings gaming-led browsing to macOS

The Mac lady sings

  • Software
  • 13 December 2019
Google Assistant gets 'Interpreter Mode' on iOS and Android
Google Assistant gets 'Interpreter Mode' on iOS and Android

Babel in yo ear

  • Software
  • 13 December 2019
Back to Top

Most read

Apple's iPhone 12 won't see a significant price increase, claims Kuo
Apple's iPhone 12 won't see a significant price increase, claims analyst
FTC might order Facebook to stop integrating Instagram, Messenger and WhatsApp
FTC might order Facebook to stop merger of Instagram, Messenger and WhatsApp
Comet Lake-S leaks keep hitting earth
Intel Comet Lake-S leak teases AMD-chasing six-core Core i5-10600
Windows 7 goes end-of-life in a month
Windows 7 goes end-of-life in a month
OnePlus 8 Lite leak hints at a return to the mid-range
OnePlus 8 Lite leak hints at a return to the mid-range
  • Contact
  • Marketing solutions
  • Enterprise IT Events
  • Incisive Media
  • Terms & conditions
  • Policies
  • Careers
  • Twitter
  • Newsletters
  • Facebook

© Incisive Business Media (IP) Limited, Published by Incisive Business Media Limited, New London House, 172 Drury Lane, London WC2B 5QR, registered in England and Wales with company registration numbers 09177174 & 09178013

Digital publisher of the year
Digital publisher of the year 2010, 2013, 2016 & 2017