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SpaceX Internet Satellite Network: Starlink

Discussion in 'SpaceX' started by Grendal, Nov 8, 2014.

  1. palmer_md

    palmer_md Member

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    I'm not so much worried about the financial aspects of it but environmentally it crossed my mind. That is going to be a whole lot of stuff flying around and then becoming just dead "junk" flying around soon after. I've heard about a possible future of us becoming landlocked onto this planet because of too much junk flying around for us to safely leave the planet. This seems like it puts us dangerously close to that scenario.
     
  2. ggr

    ggr Expert in Dunning-Kruger Effect!

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    The satellites weigh about 400kg each. Payload to LEO on F9 is 22,800kg. There are around 50 satellites per orbital plane, and (coincidence? I think not!) they can launch all of them at once! (Spreading out the satellites in an orbit is easy, but changing planes is hard.) It's still a launch every couple of weeks, but then that's what was said originally too, it's no surprise.

    In environmental terms, each F9 launch uses about 120,000 kg of RP1. Contrast this to a Boeing 747 which holds around 60,000 liters of Jet-A1, which is about 50,000 kg, and the fuels are fairly similar. A launch every couple of weeks won't move the needle very much.
     
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  3. ggr

    ggr Expert in Dunning-Kruger Effect!

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    "Space is very big." -- Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. The real problem is something big being broken into lots of little pieces, not the ones that are big, and under control.
     
  4. bxr140

    bxr140 Active Member

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    Not a new concept. It hasn't been implemented yet because its not cost effective. Most LEOs deorbit themselves passively in 25 years or less (its regulated), and there's not enough of a traffic jam in GEO to warrant the need.

    With the various mega-constellations in proposal now, the benefit may eventually be worth the cost. Stay tuned. o_O
     
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  5. sandpiper

    sandpiper Active Member

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    4000 satellites?!!! Getting crowded up there!

    [​IMG]
     
  6. RDoc

    RDoc S85D

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    For people concerned about crowding, keep in mind that in low earth orbit there are about 800 million sq miles at any given altitude.
     
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  7. ecarfan

    ecarfan Well-Known Member

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    Nope. Space is very big even in LEO.
     
  8. jkn

    jkn Member

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    Remember also: With speed of 7 km/s a lot of space is needed.


    25 years is reasonable for 500 km orbit. I didn't find decay time for 1100 km orbit. I guess it is about 100000 years.
     
  9. GoTslaGo

    GoTslaGo Learning Member

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  10. Cosmacelf

    Cosmacelf Well-Known Member

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    OK, it's got to be said - Elon never misses an opportunity to grab free government money...
     
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  11. ecarfan

    ecarfan Well-Known Member

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    It doesn't have to be said, because it's not true, given that Tesla paid off the DOE loan so early. It would have made more financial sense to pay it off later.

    If you want government subsidies, don't start an electric car company. The playing field is overwhelmingly tilted against you!
     
  12. Cosmacelf

    Cosmacelf Well-Known Member

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    Why so defensive? The Connect America Fund is a grant program ... aka free government money. Tesla/SpaceX/Solarcity are all built on top of generous direct and indirect subsidies, tax abatements, development contracts, etc. For an example, I believe the SpaceX dragon spacecraft is completely funded by NASA, and SpaceX gets to use it for commercial use. I'm not complaining - god knows ULA has extracted WAY WAY more money from the Air Force than SpaceX probably ever will. It isn't a knock against Elon, just an observation.
     
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  13. Grendal

    Grendal SpaceX Moderator

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    The Satellite network will be called Starlink.
     
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  14. ecarfan

    ecarfan Well-Known Member

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    Sure.
     
  15. mspohr

    mspohr Well-Known Member

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    As soon as the fossil fuel industry drops the $5.3 Trillion a year it receives in subsidies, I'm sure Elon will be happy to do without subsidies.
     
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  16. Cosmacelf

    Cosmacelf Well-Known Member

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    Why would he? This isn't some cosmic fairness thing. It's just dealing with the regulatory and government environment you are in. It isn't as if Elon sets government policy. If the subsidies are there to be had, then you'd be a stupid business person to not take advantage of them, assuming they line up with your goals.
     
  17. N5329K

    N5329K Active Member

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    In Elon's defense, he didn't actually start an electric car company. But he sure has grown one.
    Robin
     
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  18. MSMike

    MSMike Member

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  19. larmor

    larmor Active Member

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    Wireless energy transfer... I'm going to start selling tinfoil hats...
     
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  20. MSMike

    MSMike Member

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