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MATLAB : Fourier transform

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By Nuno Nogueira, CC BY-SA 2.5, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=3912826 MATLAB has been  crucial programming language across worldwide that let us express matrix and array mathematics directly. In signal processing and communication it plays vital role in analysing and exploring time series data in time domain or frequency domain. For analysing non periodic signals in frequency domain we use Fourier transform instead of Fourier series ,which is used to express periodic signals in terms of infinite sum of sinusoidal terms .   Fourier transform can exist for :      1. Energy signals      2. Power signals       3. Impulse signals  That means absolutely integrable signals can have their Fourier transform only.  Formula for Fourier transform;   Then its come to use Fourier transform in MATLAB. So here is the code for Fourier transform of sinusoidal wave , for any other signal we ...
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Starlink : Internet from space

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Starlink is a privately owned project of Elon Musk's SpaceX promising to offer high-quality internet connections from space to the entire world. Currently, SpaceX is targeting its service in northern USA and Canada but it is planning to rapidly increase its coverage. It is working to have worldwide coverage by the end of 2021. This Starlink constellation will consist of thousands of satellites in lower earth orbit which will work in union with ground transceivers. SpaceX is launching 60 satellites at a time.

Start of the venture

Elon Musk firstly announced this idea in 2015. SpaceX started launching satellites in May 2019 with the launch of first 60 satellites. The most recent launch was done on the 22nd of April, taking the total count to 420. SpaceX plans to have as many as 12,000 satellites in this constellation throughout the globe providing very fast internet connection. SpaceX's satellite internet system is designed to offer blazing fast speeds up to 1 gigabit per second. The first phase will see around 1,600 satellites flying at 550 kilometres in altitude. 

Challenges

Some days after the first launch, some sky-watchers noticed a linear string of lights floating in the sky in the early morning. This left everyone surprised and astronomers aghast. Astronomers have expressed their concerns that this satellite constellation could have a negative impact on astronomical observations. Astronomical Society is also expressing its concern over how these satellites could disrupt optical and radio surveys of many telescopes. Moreover, it is also adding to the problem of space junk. Earth's orbit is also not so empty these days, with about 1,500 active satellites, 2,200 defunct satellites and, millions of tiny fragments of space debris in orbit. Adding thousands of new satellites to already crowded orbital pathways is quite unsafe for future.


Starlink satellites night view from earth
SpaceX is aware of the astronomers concern and it is also trying to resolve this problem using anti-reflective surfaces on new satellites. It is also using 'sun-shade' to reduce the reflection from sunlight in future. According to SpaceX, failed satellites would deorbit within a few years. It is also planning to invest in technologies to automate satellites collision avoidance.

Future of the venture

Starlink aims to provide low latency, high bandwidth broadband across the world especially to the places having low and expensive internet connectivity. This will bring a great change in internet facilities. However, Elon Musk is not alone in this emerging market. 
SpaceX has also stated that the positive cash flow from selling satellite internet services would be necessary to fund their Mars plans. Hence it can be thought as a long term plan of Elon musk.
For now, Starlink will be great for any sparsely populated areas with expensive or little to no connectivity!



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