Tech-Solutions to Real-world Challenges
`Modern Problems Require Modern Solutions' is one of the most used memes on the internet featuring the legendary American stand-up comedian Dave Chappelle. The meme enthusiasts would know; the frame comes from a skit from Season 2, episode 1 of Chappelle's Show, aired January 21st, 2004. These words, in fact, today have newfound meaning beyond the intended humor. Elon Musk, the multibillionaire global business icon, endeavoring to solve challenges with futuristic technologies is the epitome of this.
One of Elon's business projects, Starlink, is a satellite internet constellation operated by SpaceX, providing satellite Internet access coverage to over 50 countries. SpaceX privately sent truckloads of Starlink terminals to Ukraine last year, allowing the war-ridden country's military to communicate by plugging them in and connecting them with the nearly 4,000 satellites SpaceX has launched into low-Earth orbit so far. Governments, including the United States and France, funded the shipments on top of those funded privately by SpaceX.
On the other hand, Elon also envisions enabling common people to experience space. Starship is the nearly 400-foot tall rocket SpaceX has been developing, intending to create a vehicle that can carry cargo and groups of people beyond Earth. Most interestingly, Elon's Starship will cost less than $10 million, while NASA's space missions currently cost $4.1 billion for a single launch. That's a mind-blowing, ground-breaking revolution. Well, even though the scale is different, global leaders worldwide seem more interested in solving societal challenges with technology. In this issue, we have curated a bunch of stories pertaining to exceptional global leaders.
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