Elon Musk’s Next Mission: Internet Satellites

Elon Musk shook up the automotive and aerospace industries with electric cars and cheap rockets. Now, apparently, he’s focused on satellites, looking at ways to make smaller, less-expensive models that can deliver Internet access across the globe.

Musk is working with Greg Wyler, a satellite-industry veteran and former Google Inc. executive. Wyler founded WorldVu Satellites, which controls a large block of radio spectrum. Musk and Wyler have discussed launching around 700 satellites, each weighing less than 250 pounds. That is about half the size of the smallest communications satellites now in commercial use. The constellation would be 10 times the size of the largest current fleet, managed by Iridium Communications. The venture would face large financial, technical and regulatory hurdles. Industry officials estimate that it would cost $1 billion or more.