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They are going for scale, where missing launch window is more expensive than just launching the rest of the payload. https://twitter.com/SpaceX/status/11936876
by NikolaeVarius 7y ago
They are going for scale, where missing launch window is more expensive than just launching the rest of the payload.
https://twitter.com/SpaceX/status/1193687615528042496 https://twitter.com/SpaceX/status/1193687615528042496
And in this case, if dead, the satellite will be used as a science experiment
- Rebelgecko 7y agoThat's interesting that they say 100% of the components will burn up on reentry— is this an updated design? That wasn't true for the previous batch
- jws 7y agohttps://spectrum.ieee.org/tech-talk/aerospace/satellites/spacex-claims-to-have-redesigned-its-starlink-satellites-to-eliminate-casualty-risks https://spectrum.ieee.org/tech-talk/aerospace/satellites/spa... There is an annoying interstitial ad, but the URL really says it all. From March 21, 2019. They say the first 75 have iron thruster parts and steel reaction wheels which can survive reentry, but that in subsequent builds no parts will come down with lethal energy.
- apendleton 7y agoYes, this is apparently an upgraded version: https://spaceflightnow.com/2019/11/10/spacex-readies-upgraded-starlink-satellites-for-launch/ https://spaceflightnow.com/2019/11/10/spacex-readies-upgrade... that has gone from 95% to 100% demisable, and also has Ka band antennas in addition to Ku.
- jessriedel 7y agoWill this still be true when the versions with inter-satellite laser links are launched next year? I heard that, at least initially, the links may require hardware that will not fully burn up.
- Paul-ish 7y agoIf this becomes really common, do any of the materials on the satellites present a health or environmental concern?
- Kutta 7y agoNo.