StarLink and Mobile Internet

[turbopilot]

Another 60 StarLink satellites going up on January 20th. This thing is looking real. Lots of messages on the internet about folks trying to sign up for beta testing. So far no indication of an organized effort by SpaceX. RV's would be a logical group.

 

[Joe Hogan]

More chatter on Starlink How SpaceX Starlink works: price, launch date for Elon Musk's internet

 

[turbopilot]

Another 60 StarLink satellites just deployed a few minutes ago. Two more launches scheduled in February. This new internet system is going to happen.

StarLink can only operate with the support of ground stations that provide the back haul. Based on recent FCC filings the first ground stations being built are primarily in the Western US. So as the service is rolled out it will likely begin the West and roll East.

 

[BGMAC]

In my world of the internet I do a lot of work through VPN. The communication delay using current satellite technology would not allow me to use it. Hopefully they will improve it.

 

[Joe Hogan]

StarLink is designed as a Low Earth Orbit (LEO) system specifically to reduce transit time (Latency). My current comcast cable internet setup pings at 28ms. The Latency will be similar to a typical cable installation or better. 10-20 ms

 

[Chuggs]

Wow... I wonder if they will get the technology small enough to fit into a cellphone.
it would be nice to basically have a SATphone/Data connection even in the middle of the ocean floating in a rubber raft. Revolutionary!!!

 

[Joe Hogan]

Wow... I wonder if they will get the technology small enough to fit into a cellphone.
it would be nice to basically have a SATphone/Data connection even in the middle of the ocean floating in a rubber raft. Revolutionary!!!

Sat Phones are quite common in the Cruising community. These phones for what they provide are reasonably inexpensive. Friends that are transiting the Pacific on what most would consider a "rubber raft" call in and Text routinely with their InReach sat phone.

 

[Chuggs]

Sat Phones are quite common in the Cruising community. These phones for what they provide are reasonably inexpensive. Friends that are transiting the Pacific on what most would consider a "rubber raft" call in and Text routinely with their InReach sat phone.

Very true...but they probably can’t stream a movie or get those download speeds. That’s what is so amazing.

 

[turbopilot]

SpaceX confirmed 242 satellites now in orbit. Looks like 10 of those satellites have some problems and are being de-orbited. SpaceX has said it designed these satellites for low cost and high speed manufacturing. It fully expects a mortality rate. When they fail they are de-orbited to burn up in the atmosphere. Still looking for around 1,400 in orbit to begin competitive internet service in North America. So we have a way to go. Right now they are maintaining a 120 satellite per month pace that is expected to increase through the year. All this is facilitated by cost and turn out time by the reuse of the first stage booster. Todays booster was making its third trip into space and was recovered successfully. The economics of all this is reinventing space travel. A first stage booster costs $60 million. The propellant cost for that booster is around $400,000. So every reuse of a first stage saves $60 million. To look at it another way the per satellite launch cost for StarLink is reduced by $1 million every time SpaceX can reuse a booster.

 

[Jim]

SpaceX confirmed 242 satellites now in orbit. Looks like 10 of those satellites have some problems and are being de-orbited. SpaceX has said it designed these satellites for low cost and high speed manufacturing. It fully expects a mortality rate. When they fail they are de-orbited to burn up in the atmosphere. Still looking for around 1,400 in orbit to begin competitive internet service in North America. So we have a way to go. Right now they are maintaining a 120 satellite per month pace that is expected to increase through the year. All this is facilitated by cost and turn out time by the reuse of the first stage booster. Todays booster was making its third trip into space and was recovered successfully. The economics of all this is reinventing space travel. A first stage booster costs $60 million. The propellant cost for that booster is around $400,000. So every reuse of a first stage saves $60 million. To look at it another way the per satellite launch cost for StarLink is reduced by $1 million every time SpaceX can reuse a booster.

In late 2019, SpaceX said they wanted to put up 40,000 of these satellites. And while I find the endeavor to be fascinating, I have trouble with humans adding that many satellites to the mess already up there. And we all know it's not going to end there. How long before there are 100's of thousands of satellites cluttering up the neighborhood?

It's a brave new world for sure.