The pandemic is speeding up the space internet race

How the technology behind airplane wifi could help connect everyone on Earth.

‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ 

View on the web How the pandemic is bringing Elon Musk's dream to connect everyone on Earth closer to reality In early March, just days before cities across the US shut down due to the Covid-19 pandemic, Elon Musk shared the latest details about his plan to build a satellite broadband service called Starlink. Speaking at a satellite conference in Washington, DC, Musk described how a constellation of Starlink satellites will "blink" when they enter low-Earth orbit. As described, they almost sound like streaks of glitter in the night sky, or magic bands of flying gadgets that can beam internet down to anyone on the planet. Combined with improvements to existing technology like DSL, cable, and fiber — not to mention 4G and 5G cellular networks — futuristic satellite broadband stands to bridge the digital divide in the US and elsewhere. And because the pandemic has prompted explosive demand for better, more widely available internet connectivity, fast progress seems more inevitable than ever. Recode's Adam Clark Estes looks at the new SpaceX project and explains the history of innovation behind satellite broadband, an exciting new technology that's closer than you think. Why we're still years away from having self-driving cars Self-driving cars were expected to roll out by 2021. Here's what we need to solve and build first. [ Eric Adams / Recode ] How Old Navy quickly turned its stores into e-commerce distribution centers Nancy Green, the head of Old Navy for Gap Inc., explains to Recode's Jason Del Rey how her company rethought its business in response to the coronavirus pandemic. [ Devin Nadi / Recode ] How the 2020 census is trying to overcome Covid-19, digital divides, and Trump to get an accurate count Another court defeat for the Trump administration means people have until October 31 to fill out their census form. [ Sara Morrison / Recode ] TikTok download ban is blocked by judge The ruling lands hours before Trump administration's ban was to take effect and gives Chinese-owned app a short-term victory. [ Katy Stech Ferek and Georgia Wells / Wall Street Journal ] Inside eBay's cockroach cult: The ghastly story of a stalking scandal "People are basically good" was eBay's founding principle. But in the deranged summer of 2019, prosecutors say, a campaign to terrorize a blogger crawled out of a dark place in the corporate soul. [ David Streitfeld / New York Times ] The surreal hyperrealism of Arinze Stanley Facebook Twitter Instagram This email was sent to milburnkennedy@hotmail.com. Manage your email preferences, or unsubscribe to stop receiving emails from Vox Media. View our Privacy Notice and our Terms of Service. Vox Media, 1201 Connecticut Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20036. Copyright © 2020. All rights reserved.