3 ms·
Off topic: How does Starlink deploy updates to satellites? I would think the constraints are very different to standard deployments: * Satellites are pets, n
by pkos98 3y ago
Off topic: How does Starlink deploy updates to satellites?
I would think the constraints are very different to standard deployments:
* Satellites are pets, not cattle
* Increased latency
* Firmware upgrades potentially resulting in unresponsiveness
etc...
I guess first of all there is quite sophisticated testing on local satellites as well as simulators?
- tlrobinson 3y agohttps://digitalcommons.usu.edu/smallsat/2023/all2023/72/ https://digitalcommons.usu.edu/smallsat/2023/all2023/72/
- fragmede 3y agoWith over 5,500 satellites in LEO, I have a hard time seeing Starlink satellites as pets and not cattle.
- pkos98 3y agotrue if you only look at the amount of satellites, but if you look at the cost: one of them costs several millions if you consider production and "delivery" cost and they're not easy to replace.
- jessriedel 3y agoThey are pretty easy to replace. There are multiple spares in each orbital plane, and new satellites are constantly being launched. Each satellite only has a 5 year lifespan, and no individual satellite is critical.
- sebzim4500 3y agoThere is no public number for satellite cost, but I would guess a starlink v2 satellites costs about a million including delivery. I've heard the marginal cost for the launch itself is under $20M now, and the satellites are supposedly much cheaper than they used to be.