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IridiumNEXT sats are 860kg. SpaceX's 2 test satellites were 400 kg.
by greglindahl 9y ago
IridiumNEXT sats are 860kg.
SpaceX's 2 test satellites were 400 kg.
- metaobject 9y agoBesides being much newer (and lighter components are now available), the electronics for a Free Space Optical system are much lighter than the electronics for an RF system. The concept 'Size, Weight, and Power' (SWaP) is commonly used when comparing FSO vs. RF systems. Incidentally, FSO systems have lower SWaP than RF systems. They're smaller and lighter payloads, and the system requires less poweR.