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Wow they are now clearly selling a product that depends upon starlink 2.0 satellites which depend upon starship for launch. Starship tests haven't even attempte

by elif 4y ago

Wow they are now clearly selling a product that depends upon starlink 2.0 satellites which depend upon starship for launch. Starship tests haven't even attempted a static fire on their launch platform let alone a stacked launch attempt. Not to mention, their launch calculations include re-use based upon a completely invented and also untested catching apparatus. Talk about going all in...

BurningFrog 4y ago
Why do they depend on Starship for launch? Are the new satellites too big for the current rockets?
- remorses 4y ago
  Yes, and you cannot use current starlink in middle of the ocean
  - maccam94 4y ago
    Starlink v1.5 has lasers, and that is what they have been launching since January of last year.
ianschmitz 4y ago
Do you have a citation for them being too big for SpaceX’s current rocket lineup? Very curious about this
- elif 4y ago
  Elon on everyday astronaut: "Falcon neither has the volume nor the mass [to] orbit capability required for Starlink 2.0," Musk said.
  - jdminhbg 4y ago
    It's not clear to me whether this means physically or economically; i.e., could the 2.0 satellites be put into orbit by Falcon but not at a cost that would make it worth it?
    - ncmncm 4y ago
      It is always a mistake to assume his tweets mean anything specific. He means they won't be launching 2.0 birds on Falcon, full stop. Reasons are slippery things.
gamegoblin 4y ago
The V1.5 Starlink sats have the laser interconnects, and I suspect they would be able to launch enough of those with Falcon 9 to cover at least the most popular corridors (North America <-> Europe crossing).
- elif 4y ago
  Good catch! They have almost 1000 laser satellites up now. I had no idea.
pclmulqdq 4y ago
Musk companies have a habit of going all in, then claiming they didn't when the bill comes due. So far it has worked, but I wouldn't bet on the coverage expanding much for the next 2 years.
- ncmncm 4y ago
  Right: coverage will increase to places that would add the shitload of high-ticket subscribers they will need to be able to continue operating at all, once the first tranche of birds drops out.
mlindner 4y ago
This doesn't depend on 2.0 satellites at all. I'm not sure what you're referring to.

by elif 4y ago

BurningFrog 4y ago

Why do they depend on Starship for launch? Are the new satellites too big for the current rockets?

remorses 4y ago
Yes, and you cannot use current starlink in middle of the ocean
- maccam94 4y ago
  Starlink v1.5 has lasers, and that is what they have been launching since January of last year.

ianschmitz 4y ago

Do you have a citation for them being too big for SpaceX’s current rocket lineup? Very curious about this

elif 4y ago
Elon on everyday astronaut: "Falcon neither has the volume nor the mass [to] orbit capability required for Starlink 2.0," Musk said.
- jdminhbg 4y ago
  It's not clear to me whether this means physically or economically; i.e., could the 2.0 satellites be put into orbit by Falcon but not at a cost that would make it worth it?
  - ncmncm 4y ago
    It is always a mistake to assume his tweets mean anything specific. He means they won't be launching 2.0 birds on Falcon, full stop. Reasons are slippery things.

gamegoblin 4y ago

The V1.5 Starlink sats have the laser interconnects, and I suspect they would be able to launch enough of those with Falcon 9 to cover at least the most popular corridors (North America <-> Europe crossing).

elif 4y ago
Good catch! They have almost 1000 laser satellites up now. I had no idea.

pclmulqdq 4y ago

Musk companies have a habit of going all in, then claiming they didn't when the bill comes due. So far it has worked, but I wouldn't bet on the coverage expanding much for the next 2 years.

ncmncm 4y ago
Right: coverage will increase to places that would add the shitload of high-ticket subscribers they will need to be able to continue operating at all, once the first tranche of birds drops out.

mlindner 4y ago

This doesn't depend on 2.0 satellites at all. I'm not sure what you're referring to.