We all know that the Starlink network is one of the most ambitious projects in recent years. SpaceX's initiative is to bring internet connectivity to all corners of the planet, through thousands of satellites that operate in low Earth orbit. The peculiar fact is that American researchers used Starlink satellites to determine the location of an object on the ground ; that is, they turned them into a kind of GPS.
According to Ars Technica, the specialists in charge of the experiment were able to determine their own location with an accuracy of almost eight meters . For this they used the signal from six satellites of the Starlink network, which they recorded for approximately 13 minutes. Clearly, the process is not fast, but it shows that the SpaceX infrastructure can be used in a task for which it was not designed, and with great precision.
Zak Kassas, a mechanical and aerospace engineer, was one of those responsible for the investigation, detailing how they managed to track a location on the ground with Starlink. “We listen to the signal and then we design sophisticated algorithms to identify our location, and we show that it works with great precision. And while Starlink was not designed for navigation purposes, we showed that it is possible to learn parts of the system well enough to use it to do so. “, he indicated.
The satellites of the Starlink network can be used for location purposes
The team of researchers was completed by fellow engineers Joel Khalife and Mohammad Neinavaie. It is worth noting that the first result obtained with the experiment was not very precise; he himself determined the position with a difference of almost 26 meters compared to the actual location. However, the location accuracy was drastically improved by incorporating an altimeter into the equipment ; thus the final data of 7.7 meters of precision was achieved. The full technical data has been published with the study at this link.
Without a doubt, the report is very interesting because it manages to exploit an “unknown” potential of the Starlink satellites. Obviously, this is an initial test for a system that has not (yet) been thought of as an alternative to GPS as we know it today. However, the idea may evolve favorably as time passes and the SpaceX network grows.
Kassas explained to Ars Technica that they have not yet been able to pick up the signal from several satellites simultaneously. But they are working on a new experiment on estimation of positioning in real time ; it will require the use of the signal from four Starlink satellites at the same time. He even mentioned that when SpaceX advances in its plan to launch tens of thousands of satellites, it will achieve real-time navigation and a much higher level of precision than they have achieved so far.
