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"In May 2018, SpaceX estimated the total cost of designing, building and deploying the constellation would be at least US$10 billion. Revenues from Starlink in
by morphle 3y ago
"In May 2018, SpaceX estimated the total cost of designing, building and deploying the constellation would be at least US$10 billion. Revenues from Starlink in 2022 were reportedly $1.4 billion accompanied by a net loss, with a small profit being reported starting in 2023." [1].
Other estimates and other credible sources point out that SpaceX made adequate profits if you count the military and government subsidies[1].
Not only the Chinese government is deploying their own satellite internet, several other are too. Probably because its profitable.
[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Starlink https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Starlink
- notquitetrue 3y agoAre you making an argument against supply and demand here? I’m trying to figure out what basic principles of economics I need to explain before I further engage.
- morphle 3y agoI sincerely doubt economic principles where ever a concern [1]. I remember many rumours of Elon Musk in Moscow at the founding of SpaceX with former Pentagon people? Lots of other reports on military considerations of SpaceX. Hard to verify [2][3]. [1] https://spacenews.com/spacex-providing-starlink-services-to-dod-under-unique-terms-and-conditions/ https://spacenews.com/spacex-providing-starlink-services-to-... [2] https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-3082067/Russian-space-bosses-SPAT-Elon-Musk-tried-buy-rocket-persuading-build-new-book-reveals.html https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-3082067/Russ... [3] https://spacenews.com/first-satellite-for-chinese-g60-megaconstellation-rolls-off-assembly-line/ https://spacenews.com/first-satellite-for-chinese-g60-megaco...
- dotnet00 3y agoYou're mixing up stories. Elon was in Moscow prior to founding SpaceX as he was attempting to purchase an ICBM to refurbish into a rocket to send a terrarium to Mars. He settled on founding SpaceX on the flight back because after the oligarchs lead him around a bunch with no intention of actually negotiating a sale, they straight up spat at him.
- morphle 3y agoI was only vaguely alluding to the military background of Elon's contacts around the funding cycles of SpaceX. I'm sure we don't know the real story. [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_D._Griffin https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_D._Griffin [2] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_SpaceX https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_SpaceX