‘I thought the human body would attenuate more signal,’ according to a SpaceX exec who also teased ‘light data’ for the cellular Starlink service next year.
SpaceX’s upcoming cellular Starlink service won’t always need a clear view of the sky to receive a signal. The satellites can communicate with a phone even while it’s in your pocket, according to Ben Longmier, a SpaceX senior director for satellite engineering.
Longmier has been testing SpaceX’s direct-to-cell Starlink service, which the company already confirmed works inside. On Sunday, Longmier elaborated in a tweet, saying: « I do most of my testing inside and my dinner table. It’s near a window. »
« SpaceX DTC [direct to cell] also works in a pocket facing away from the [satellite] and inside a Tesla. I really thought the human body would attenuate more signal,” he added.
The statement offers a glimpse of the potential capabilities of cellular Starlink satellites, which will first support text messages before powering voice calls and internet downloads.
