Season 2 · Episode 286
The Physics of Plane Wi-Fi: Musk, O'Leary, and Phased Arrays
Why is in-flight Wi-Fi finally getting good? Explore the physics of Starlink, phased array antennas, and the Musk-O’Leary corporate feud.
My Weird Prompts · Daniel Rosehill
January 23, 202630m 43s
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Show Notes
In this episode of My Weird Prompts, hosts Herman and Corn break down the explosive public feud between Ryanair’s Michael O’Leary and Elon Musk over Starlink’s aviation terminals. Beyond the social media insults lies a fascinating story of orbital mechanics and cutting-edge engineering. The duo explores how Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellites solve the latency issues of traditional geostationary systems and how "phased array" antennas use mathematical interference to steer beams at supersonic speeds. From the Doppler effect to the debate over aerodynamic drag, learn why the future of travel might include lag-free gaming at 35,000 feet—and why some budget airlines are still refusing to get on board.