SpaceX And T-Mobile Set To Conduct Space Calls In December
T-Mobile is on the verge of achieving a historic milestone – the first-ever phone call from space. SpaceX has officially sought approval from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) for a "Special Temporary Authority" (STA) period of 60 days. This STA is intended to facilitate the launch and testing of SpaceX's Gen2 satellites' capability to establish a direct cellphone connection.
The filing's description states: "Direct-to-cell STA to launch and test its non-geostationary orbit NGSO second generation Gen2 satellites with direct-to-cellular communications payloads to connect unmodified cellular phones directly to SpaceX Gen2 satellites."
The prospect of connecting an ordinary smartphone to a satellite in low Earth orbit opens up exciting possibilities for global connectivity. I...