Starlink Sets a New Standard: 42 Petabytes of Data Processed Every Day

At the SPIE Photonics West event in San Francisco, which focuses on the latest advancements in optics and photonics, SpaceX engineer Travis Brashers shared new insights about the Starlink system. According to Brashers, Starlink now processes over 42 petabytes of user data daily, which is equivalent to 42 million gigabytes.

Revolutionizing Global Internet Access

SpaceX’s technology plays a crucial role in delivering high-speed internet through the Starlink satellite system, especially in areas where ground-based SpaceX stations are unavailable, such as over oceans or in Antarctica. The system uses laser communication links between satellites, each capable of 100 Gbps per channel, allowing satellites to transfer data among themselves while orbiting Earth and creating a unified space-based network.

Reliability and Performance

Brashers highlighted the system’s impressive reliability, even though the equipment operates aboard thousands of Starlink satellites constantly circling the planet. Despite technical challenges, SpaceX has achieved a laser link uptime of over 99%. The satellites form approximately 266,141 laser connections per day, sometimes maintaining links for weeks and reaching data transfer speeds up to 200 Gbps.

Record-Breaking Achievements

One notable milestone was establishing a connection between two satellites more than 5,400 kilometers apart. Remarkably, the link was maintained even as one satellite descended to just 122 kilometers above Earth’s surface, enabling the transmission of video data.

Dynamic Routing and Global Coverage

Brashers also demonstrated how the system can deliver data to a Starlink antenna in Antarctica through seven different routes, with the ability to dynamically change paths within milliseconds. This capability ensures a connection stability rate of 99.99%.