Mark Zuckerberg In Kenya With Plans For Free Internet: SpaceX Explosion Will Slow Connectivity Expansion
Mark Zuckerberg, in Kenya, after first visiting Liberia, is touring Sub-Saharan Africa. Zuckerberg’s mission was to spread the word he is trying to offer free internet, via satellite. Unfortunately, his satellite exploded before launch according to Inquisitr. Along with the Space X falcon 9, Zuckerberg’s communications satellite is a total loss.
The SpaceX Explosion is a major setback, to say the least, but Elon Musk calls it a mere “bump in the road” according to the Los Angeles Times.
“The investment [in private space efforts] will still happen. I don’t think the technology is in jeopardy. It’s just going to be a bump in the road.”
Mark Zuckerberg explained his plan last year. Mark planned to offer free internet connectivity to remote regions like sub-Saharan Africa using satellite technology, according to CNN. Zuckerberg said in a morning Facebook post, he was very disappointed to hear that the Spacecom Israeli-built satellite named Amos-6 had exploded. Zuckerberg has invested $95 million in rent on the Amos-6 for the next five years of use according to TIME.
“As I’m here in Africa, I’m deeply disappointed to hear that SpaceX’s launch failure destroyed our satellite that would have provided connectivity to so many entrepreneurs and everyone else across the continent.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ulq4QefWy5A
The SpaceX explosion is a major setback for Zuckerberg, but Mark remains steadfast in his promise to bring the internet to remote parts of Africa. The explosion is a setback, but not the end of his goal.
“Fortunately, we have developed other technologies like Aquila that will connect people as well. We remain committed to our mission of connecting everyone, and we will keep working until everyone has the opportunities this satellite would have provided.”
Mark Zuckerberg, in Kenya still, is committed to providing an internet connection to every person in the world. Mark wants to help entrepreneurs in Africa conduct business and also reach isolated villages with worldwide communication. Just as Television was free when introduced, and traveled through the airwaves, sometimes “live via satellite” as older readers will recall excited announcers saying. Now that is called air TV and it still exists, though Cable has taken over much of the market. Now free internet could work in a very similar way, though the technology is significantly more advanced.
“The anomaly originated around the upper stage oxygen tank and occurred during propellant loading of the vehicle. Per standard operating procedure, all personnel were clear of the pad and there were no injuries. We are continuing to review the data to identify the root cause.”
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Mark Zuckerberg, in Kenya still, is probably starting to realize that this isn’t the end of his dream of reaching deepest Africa with Facebook via satellite.
Mark Zuckerberg in Kenya proposing his new plan, can count on SpaceX, explosion or not, to deliver a similar satellite in time.
[Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images]
