Forum Discussion

BirdDog's avatar
BirdDog
Assistant Professor
8 years ago

Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite internet

So how many think this is going happen anytime soon, or even if it does how widespread it will be? Much of the media hype has seemed to die off.

 

Latest article I could find is below and 2024 for full capacity seems very optimistic IMO. Putting 4,425 satellites up even in LEO seems quite daunting with the comparitavley small number of space launches going on presently each year.

 

https://www.theverge.com/2017/5/4/15539934/spacex-satellite-internet-launch-2019

  • C0RR0SIVE's avatar
    C0RR0SIVE
    Associate Professor
    8 years ago

    If they do launches where several are deployed at a time (12+ satellites) then it's doable...  I seem to remember there being a launch recently that had satellites in the payload like that for a constelation network, was pretty cool to see the rendering of all that.  Pretty sure it was Irridium and SpaceX that launched 10 or so satellites at one time.

    The issue is, at LEO and MEO, there's just too much space junk...  No one has taken up the job of being janitor yet to help collect as much junk as possible.  Throwing a few thousand satellites up is not a good idea as the junkyard will explode in time.

    The issues are costs... People think that Geo sats are expensive per month, imagine only a handful of subscribers on each of those satellites...  It's just not feasible yet.

    • BirdDog's avatar
      BirdDog
      Assistant Professor
      8 years ago

      No fan of space junk. Would think refrigerator size satellites could be designed to totally burn up on re-entry though.

       

      Handfull on each satellite? Unless I misunderstand the concept thousands could be on one satelite at any point in time and load would vary as each satllite moved in and out of coverage as it passes overhead. Don't know what they have engineered for load but think it is more than a "handful" at any point in time. Then also have to multiply users if true global coverage.

       

      Not trying to cheerlead. Only trying to understand the concept and true capacity as you've mentioned. Also if it is truly going to become reality.

      • C0RR0SIVE's avatar
        C0RR0SIVE
        Associate Professor
        8 years ago

        With a constellation in the thousands of satellites, yeah, a handful as in a couple hundred users tops per satellite.  I don't see more than a few hundred on each one state-side, and that's if Exede and Hughesnet go under as well.  Consider this, between the two companies there's what, 3 million customers tops.  They all pay between $50 and $130 per month, spread out on 4-10 satellites depending on what platform they are.

        Take that 3 million customers and throw them between a few hundred satellites.  The bill will be higher.

  • GabeU's avatar
    GabeU
    Distinguished Professor IV
    8 years ago

    I wouldn't bet on it happening in the time frame they are giving.  Even if everything goes perfectly, it's still a monumental task to do it that quickly.