4 ms·

Flat design is irrelevant and is not a differentiator. Cheaper propulsion is speculation unless you have data to prove otherwise. ISL has been around for a long

Flat design is irrelevant and is not a differentiator. Cheaper propulsion is speculation unless you have data to prove otherwise. ISL has been around for a long time (see iridium). SpaceX achieved higher rates, though. They won $900M in RDOF funding (based on a lie), which is still in limbo because of the poor performance. It's likely they will still get some or all of that since not all $900M was tied to the same speed tier. There is absolutely no proof this can be sustained forever, just like there isn't for Uber or Lyft not being profitable. Other phased arrays with their specs do not sell for much more. They're small, low G/T, low EIRP, "cheap" units.

inemesitaffia 3y ago
I remember looking for a Ku Band Phased array for a large drone. Cheapest I could find from a reputable company was $16k. Kymeta dishes in Ukraine that replaced starlink go for $25k minimum Not one dime of RDOF was paid. And knowing how the last RDOF equivalent worked they had every right to apply and get awarded (delivery is dubious though except in less densely populated areas). They don't seem to fake speed tests too unlike the US Telco they are partnering with for direct to cell. The flat design means way more sats per launch. And that means you're mass rather than volume limited. It's a big difference maker since theres no central stand. Check out the SpaceX OneWeb launch as a comparison. Iridium links are microwave. SpaceX is a laser. The tech is licensed. It's not just bit rate. And I don't think you can do 10 to 20 up on Iridium. is it possible? Is it possible at say Viasat Maritime prices? Iridium to carry drone video and/or Netflix at $10k to $20k p/m? Is it financially viable? Time will tell. Some space economist claims SpaceX twisted the arm of the Feds for over a billion in Ukraine. I don't believe him
inemesitaffia 3y ago
On propulsion:::: https://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=36552.1200 https://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=36552.1200 https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=5MEPWsdo-UE https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=5MEPWsdo-UE https://space.stackexchange.com/questions/36165/why-will-starlink-satellites-use-krypton-instead-of-xenon-for-electric-propulsio https://space.stackexchange.com/questions/36165/why-will-sta... I don't know if it's cheaper because it's something im not particularly familiar with. But there's people who think SpaceX isn't launching (internal costs) for less than 60 million anyway and reuse isn't saving money

inemesitaffia 3y ago

I remember looking for a Ku Band Phased array for a large drone. Cheapest I could find from a reputable company was $16k. Kymeta dishes in Ukraine that replaced starlink go for $25k minimum Not one dime of RDOF was paid. And knowing how the last RDOF equivalent worked they had every right to apply and get awarded (delivery is dubious though except in less densely populated areas). They don't seem to fake speed tests too unlike the US Telco they are partnering with for direct to cell. The flat design means way more sats per launch. And that means you're mass rather than volume limited. It's a big difference maker since theres no central stand. Check out the SpaceX OneWeb launch as a comparison. Iridium links are microwave. SpaceX is a laser. The tech is licensed. It's not just bit rate. And I don't think you can do 10 to 20 up on Iridium. is it possible? Is it possible at say Viasat Maritime prices? Iridium to carry drone video and/or Netflix at $10k to $20k p/m? Is it financially viable? Time will tell. Some space economist claims SpaceX twisted the arm of the Feds for over a billion in Ukraine. I don't believe him

inemesitaffia 3y ago

On propulsion:::: https://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=36552.1200 https://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=36552.1200 https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=5MEPWsdo-UE https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=5MEPWsdo-UE https://space.stackexchange.com/questions/36165/why-will-starlink-satellites-use-krypton-instead-of-xenon-for-electric-propulsio https://space.stackexchange.com/questions/36165/why-will-sta... I don't know if it's cheaper because it's something im not particularly familiar with. But there's people who think SpaceX isn't launching (internal costs) for less than 60 million anyway and reuse isn't saving money