SpaceX has announced that they will have to de-orbit (scrap) around a hundred of their older "early-version 1" Starlink ultrafast low-latency broadband satell
So I was under the impression that high orbit internet satellites weren’t desirable because of latency- satellite net isn’t a new thing, but low latency, high throughput is new and it’s because of low orbit mesh. Am I mistaken here? I don’t know much about it, but the speed of light is the speed of light- something traveling an extra 40,000 miles is gonna take a lot more time.
In terms of engineering the cybertruck is actually pretty interesting and compelling. I would recommend watching engineering explainer’s YouTube video before making claims that you know nothing about
The original commenter was implying that a company run by Elon would not be competent enough to assess proper orbits and likened it to an incompetent Tesla with the cybertruck. However the cybertruck is a competent product in the segment by the basis of stats, engineering, and driving. Therefore the original argument is flawed and disingenuous. Fuck Elon btw just in case anyone thinks I’m a fanboy
So I was under the impression that high orbit internet satellites weren’t desirable because of latency- satellite net isn’t a new thing, but low latency, high throughput is new and it’s because of low orbit mesh. Am I mistaken here?
Yes and No.
Yes you’re right in the desire for Starlink orbits (an its real satellite compeditors) all want LEO or Low Earth Orbit altitudes, which is essentially anything below 1200 miles-ish up vs GEO which is 20,000 or so miles up.
However there’s lots of different spaces in that “up to 1200 miles up” space. Musk DID want Starlink higher than they are, at about 750 miles up if I remember correctly. It would still mean really low latency compared to GEO but mean quite a bit fewer satellites needed. Fewer needed because each satellite can “see” more of the Earth from higher up. Except OneWeb got that slot first.
So I was under the impression that high orbit internet satellites weren’t desirable because of latency- satellite net isn’t a new thing, but low latency, high throughput is new and it’s because of low orbit mesh. Am I mistaken here? I don’t know much about it, but the speed of light is the speed of light- something traveling an extra 40,000 miles is gonna take a lot more time.
I’m sure you’re right. But you’re talking about a company run by the guy who came up with the Cybertruck.
In terms of engineering the cybertruck is actually pretty interesting and compelling. I would recommend watching engineering explainer’s YouTube video before making claims that you know nothing about
Interesting and compelling alone do not, a good product, make.
The original commenter was implying that a company run by Elon would not be competent enough to assess proper orbits and likened it to an incompetent Tesla with the cybertruck. However the cybertruck is a competent product in the segment by the basis of stats, engineering, and driving. Therefore the original argument is flawed and disingenuous. Fuck Elon btw just in case anyone thinks I’m a fanboy
Nope you are correct. Latency is the reason these are in LEO.
Yes and No.
Yes you’re right in the desire for Starlink orbits (an its real satellite compeditors) all want LEO or Low Earth Orbit altitudes, which is essentially anything below 1200 miles-ish up vs GEO which is 20,000 or so miles up.
However there’s lots of different spaces in that “up to 1200 miles up” space. Musk DID want Starlink higher than they are, at about 750 miles up if I remember correctly. It would still mean really low latency compared to GEO but mean quite a bit fewer satellites needed. Fewer needed because each satellite can “see” more of the Earth from higher up. Except OneWeb got that slot first.