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Earth Intelligence

16 Mar 2024 — 5 min read

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SpaceX Satellites
Apple’s AI Acquisition

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SpaceX Satellites:

Yesterday, on March 15 at 8:21 p.m. EST, SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket deployed 23 Starlink satellites into low-Earth orbit from Launch Complex 39A (LC-39A) at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. This mission signified the 19th journey for its first stage booster, which had a diverse history of launches including GPS III Space Vehicle 04, GPS III Space Vehicle 05, Inspiration4, Ax-1, Nilesat 301, OneWeb Launch 17, ARABSAT BADR-8, and including this latest one, a total of 12 Starlink missions. This launch also marks the milestone of SpaceX having placed over 6000 satellites into orbit since the commencement of the Starlink project in 2019, showcasing the company's significant contribution to expanding global satellite infrastructure.
Starlink, is an ambitious project aimed at creating a satellite internet constellation designed to provide high-speed, low-latency broadband internet access to underserved and remote areas across the globe. By deploying thousands of small satellites into low-Earth orbit (LEO), Starlink seeks to bridge the digital divide, offering internet connectivity to places where traditional internet infrastructure is sparse or non-existent. This global network relies on a vast array of satellites working in concert with ground transceivers to ensure widespread internet coverage.
The Starlink satellites launched into orbit serve as the backbone of this satellite network. Each satellite is equipped with multiple high-throughput antennas and uses laser links to communicate with adjacent satellites, creating a mesh network around the planet. This architecture allows for data to be relayed across the network at speeds close to that of light in a vacuum, significantly reducing latency and increasing internet speeds compared to traditional satellite internet services. As more satellites are added to the constellation, the coverage and capacity of the Starlink network expand, enabling access to high-speed internet in increasingly remote areas.
In addition to supporting the Starlink network, these satellites also play a crucial role in Starshield, an extension of the Starlink infrastructure tailored for government and defense applications, primarily utilized by the U.S. Department of Defense. Starshield leverages the advanced satellite technology and infrastructure of Starlink to offer specialized services such as Earth observation, hosted payloads, secure communication infrastructure, and more. This dedicated network provides enhanced security features and the ability to support critical missions that require high levels of data security and operational reliability.

Apples’s AI Acquisition:

Apple has expanded its technological reach by acquiring the Canadian artificial intelligence startup DarwinAl, marking a significant stride towards embracing generative AI technology in 2024. This acquisition, completed earlier in the year, has led to the integration of numerous DarwinAl staff into Apple's AI division, as disclosed by sources familiar with the transaction who wished to remain anonymous due to the absence of a public announcement.
DarwinAl has been recognized for its AI innovations, particularly in the realm of visual inspection of manufacturing components across various industries. A notable aspect of DarwinAl's expertise is in the development of AI systems that are both compact and efficient, a feature that aligns with Apple's interest in deploying AI functionalities directly on devices, minimizing reliance on cloud-based processing.
The acquisition saw Alexander Wong, a notable AI researcher from the University of Waterloo and a key figure in DarwinAl's establishment, joining Apple's AI team in a directorial role. Prior to its acquisition by Apple, DarwinAl, based in Waterloo, Ontario, had successfully raised over US$15 million by 2022, supported by investments from entities such as Honeywell Ventures and Inovia Capital, according to Communitech, a hub for the Canadian startup ecosystem. DarwinAl's technology has also been utilized by major corporations like Lockheed Martin Corp. and Intel Corp., showcasing its broad applicability and potential for innovation within and beyond manufacturing contexts.

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