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There needs to be an "SpaceX"-like developing the payloads as well. Most commercial payloads are very expensive and one -off R&D. That's even worse than what r

There needs to be an "SpaceX"-like developing the payloads as well. Most commercial payloads are very expensive and one -off R&D. That's even worse than what rockets were before SpaceX came along. Rockets would be exactly the same as each other. Once you can pick and choose your satellite parts Domino's like and have it built, then you'll see the valuation skyrocket. That may be as hard or harder than building another SpaceX.

greglindahl 9y ago
All of the larger constellations, starting with Iridium, then Oneweb, then Starlink, involve building a factory and an assembly line. Iridium hoped other constellation makers would use theirs, apparently hasn't scored any new business and they're getting close to finishing. Oneweb has a factory under construction that's bigger, and Starlink's factory will be even bigger. Oneweb's is built in collaboration with Arianespace and also hopes to sign up business. Insomuch as Oneweb uses off-the-shelf parts, they want so many of them that their suppliers are having to build new factories to build those parts. Their solar array supplier is doing that, for example. I suspect Starlink will use a model closer to the Gigafactory and Tesla's partnership with Panasonic. Lots of people are offering standard satellite parts, at high prices and low volumes. It'll be interesting to see what kind of trickledown Oneweb causes.