How Satellite Internet Breaks the Laws of Physics: Why Light Travels Faster in Space Than in Fiber
In November 2020, SpaceX requested that the Federal Communications Commission modify its license to operate 348 satellites at an altitude of 560 kilometers with an inclination of 97.6 degrees. These satellites would carry inter-satellite laser links—technology that allows satellites to communicate directly with each other without bouncing signals through ground stations. The physics behind this request reveals something counterintuitive: for long-distance communication, signals traveling through the vacuum of space can arrive faster than signals traveling through fiber optic cables on Earth. ...