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This animation based on this proposal is good, https://m.youtube.com/watch?feature=youtu.be&v=AdKNCBrkZQ4 https://m.youtube.com/watch?feature=youtu.be&v=AdKNCBr

• reaperducer 8y ago
  That animation was great. Just what I needed to wrap my brain around this. But 4,400+ satellites! How many launches is that going to take? Also, glad to see that Alaska doesn't get shafted in this. As the computer voice noted, it's an FCC requirement.
  • cagenut 8y ago
    good question so I found this[1] faq which says: Using a Falcon 9 at 25 satellites per launch it would take 177 flights, about 36 flights per year. Using a Falcon Heavy with 40 satellites it would take 112 flights, over 5 years that's about 22 flights per year. Using a BFR assuming 350 satellites per launch, until someone comes up with a better number, would need 13 flights total. now those are based on the old higher orbit so presumably the numbers move substantially with this new plan. [1]https://www.reddit.com/r/Starlink/comments/7zqm2c/starlink_faq/ https://www.reddit.com/r/Starlink/comments/7zqm2c/starlink_f...
    • zaroth 8y ago
      Ehh, give ‘em a few more years, they can do it with one rocket over the course of a few days. Only a little </s>. Imagine a business plan for 4,400 satellites being sane. What a world.
      • Klathmon 8y ago
        Not only that, but the companies first successful orbital launch was only 10 years ago! In those 10 years they went from being literally laughed out of rooms, to being the forefront of the industry. And even now that they are arguably "on top" in many ways, they keep on trying to do these insane things. They are currently trying to build a rocket with the largest launch capacity in history, launch and maintain a satellite network which is the largest in history (if successful, it won't just be the largest, but will be at or near half of all satellites in orbit!), and still have a goal of getting humans to mars. Say what you will about Elon Musk, the guy knows how to set goals.
  • mabbo 8y ago
    > how many launches is that going to take? In my view, that's kind of the point. SpaceX internet service might make money, or might not- let's presume it loses a little bit of money over time. That's fine, because it's true purpose is to reduce costs for SpaceX the rocket manufacturer and refurbisher. Manufacturing facilities operate best when they have an even load. Scaling up and down, laying off then hiring, etc, is bad for business. By having this perfectly flexible customer, SpaceX can do a lot less of that. They can scale up at an even pace. The end goal will be SpaceX launching every X days exactly, always with a mix of external and internal customers on those launches.
• lgats 8y ago
  I love this animation, although it may need to be slightly revised with this new FCC application.
• ghoul2 8y ago
  wait, how are the satellites orbiting in planes that don't pass thru the center of the earth?
  • detaro 8y ago
    I think it just looks that way from the way it's rendered: the continuous line at the northern limit isn't an orbit, but formed from the northernmost segment of many.
    • ghoul2 8y ago
      no, not that, but it looks like the satellites are orbiting in circles in higher latitude-planes. if you follow the motion of the boxes.