# FemtoStar: taking aim for the stars

DevFeed: [FemtoStar: taking aim for the stars](<https://devfeed.tech/articles/femtostar-taking-aim-for-the-stars-34842.md>)

Original publisher: [Read original article](<https://pine64.org/2021/05/19/femtostar-taking-aim-for-the-stars/>)

Published: 2021-05-19T00:00:00Z

Content type: opinion

Language: en

Sources: [Community blog on PINE64](<https://devfeed.tech/sources/community-blog-on-pine64.md>)

Topics: [Network](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/network.md>), [networking](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/networking.md>), [Open Source](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/open-source.md>), [Messaging](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/messaging.md>), [P2P](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/p2p.md>), [Hardware](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/hardware.md>), [Software](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/software.md>)

Tags: [free](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/free.md>), [gateway](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/gateway.md>), [hardware](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/hardware.md>), [messaging](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/messaging.md>), [networking](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/networking.md>), [open-source](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/open-source.md>), [open-source-software](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/open-source-software.md>), [peer](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/peer.md>), [pinedio](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/pinedio.md>), [privacy](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/privacy.md>), [web](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/web.md>)

## AI overview

PINE64 introduces FemtoStar, a proposed mobile satellite service for private and open communications. The project aims to use open-source software and open hardware in a decentralized satellite network, with user hardware able to connect to satellites or provide ground services.

## Source excerpt

Networking and communication is something that has been on our minds as of late. As many of you are surely aware, we have started developing our own solution to private and secure peer-to-peer and group text messaging based on the PineDio gateway system, available next month. While we have high hopes for this system, we are also aware of its limitations. Voice communication and higher-than LoRa® data speeds is something we all rely on in our daily lives, and nothing will change this. If there was only a way to network via a secure and open source friendly manner - enter FemtoStar. FemtoStar is a mobile satellite service working towards creating a satellite constellation for open and private communications around the globe. Their satellites as well as ground infrastructure run open source software atop of open hardware. The system can be accessed without needing to go through an official gateway, and anyone is welcome to review the source files as well as the code. FemtoStar's vision is one of a privacy-respecting and net-neutral mobile satellite service that can be accessed by anyone, anywhere and at any time. Moreover, users' hardware can be used to access the satellite network without prior consent from FemtoStar. All hardware can be used both to connect directly to satellites and to operate on-the-ground services. As for payments: 'credit processing takes place on-satellite, and works even when no official ground station is available'. We have now been talking to the people behind the FemtoStar project for some time, and we've been both impressed and captivated by their vision. Their idea of a low-cost and decentralized network allowing anonymous, geolocation-resistant communications is something we believe that our community can get behind. To anyone reading this, it is probably clear that we and FemtoStar have many convergent goals. A PineDio gateway can service the neighbourhood with text messaging, while a FemtoStar gateway can service an entire continent wit