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Usually orbits are reserved years in advance. AFAIK this kind of move is unprecedented (although everything about Starlink is unprecedented since it's the first

by wmf 10mo ago

Usually orbits are reserved years in advance. AFAIK this kind of move is unprecedented (although everything about Starlink is unprecedented since it's the first megaconstellation). Two weeks ago, a Starlink satellite exploded. SpaceX believes it wasn't caused by a collision which means the explosion was probably caused by a malfunction in the satellite itself. Now 4,400 Starlink satellites are moving to a lower orbit for "safety". Is this an emergency change to account for a design flaw that they just discovered?

JumpCrisscross 10mo ago
> Usually orbits are reserved years in advance Because planning missions took years to plan. Holidaygoers book hotels months and sometimes a year or more in advance. Business travelers don’t. That doesn’t make the latter unusual, just a different use case. > Is this an emergency change to account for a design flaw that they just discovered? Zero evidence or precedent for this.
- wmf 10mo ago
  If the existing orbit is safe enough, why bother "increasing space safety"? The cost of this reconfiguration must be quite large. And why have no public comment period?
  - JumpCrisscross 10mo ago
    > If the existing orbit is safe enough, why bother "increasing space safety"? My honest guest is this is about latency more than safety. > why have no public comment period? Does the FAA require public-comment periods for plane changes?
    - wmf 10mo ago
      I don't think this kind of change has ever been done before so there may not be clear regulations.
quailfarmer 10mo ago
You’re comparing to GEO communication sat orbits, which are highly coordinated and expensive real estate, reserved for small numbers of vehicles.
- wmf 10mo ago
  No, I'm not. AFAIK there has been years of regulatory wrangling between Starlink, Kuiper, OneWeb, etc. about who gets which orbital shell. Shells aren't yet as scarce as GEO slots but companies are already planning for a future where they might be.

by wmf 10mo ago

JumpCrisscross 10mo ago

> Usually orbits are reserved years in advance Because planning missions took years to plan. Holidaygoers book hotels months and sometimes a year or more in advance. Business travelers don’t. That doesn’t make the latter unusual, just a different use case. > Is this an emergency change to account for a design flaw that they just discovered? Zero evidence or precedent for this.

wmf 10mo ago
If the existing orbit is safe enough, why bother "increasing space safety"? The cost of this reconfiguration must be quite large. And why have no public comment period?
- JumpCrisscross 10mo ago
  > If the existing orbit is safe enough, why bother "increasing space safety"? My honest guest is this is about latency more than safety. > why have no public comment period? Does the FAA require public-comment periods for plane changes?
  - wmf 10mo ago
    I don't think this kind of change has ever been done before so there may not be clear regulations.

quailfarmer 10mo ago

You’re comparing to GEO communication sat orbits, which are highly coordinated and expensive real estate, reserved for small numbers of vehicles.

wmf 10mo ago
No, I'm not. AFAIK there has been years of regulatory wrangling between Starlink, Kuiper, OneWeb, etc. about who gets which orbital shell. Shells aren't yet as scarce as GEO slots but companies are already planning for a future where they might be.