This is going to be fun. Let's get three to five companies to launch several thousand satellites each all at once into the same general orbital paths. What could go wrong?
This is going to be fun. Let's get three to five companies to launch several thousand satellites each all at once into the same general orbital paths. What could go wrong?
It's unlikely. These satellites will decay on their own if unmaintained, and they've been positioned very carefully. Plus, space is huge. Consider the size of the Earth and realize their orbital...
It's unlikely. These satellites will decay on their own if unmaintained, and they've been positioned very carefully. Plus, space is huge. Consider the size of the Earth and realize their orbital paths are significantly wider than that.
It would be the most hysterical answer to the Fermi Paradox if every other alien race shot up too many satellites to get anything else outside of orbit.
It would be the most hysterical answer to the Fermi Paradox if every other alien race shot up too many satellites to get anything else outside of orbit.
There is a lot space up there, and unlike the surface of the earth there is a third dimension to play with. AFAIK the biggest issues are the fragments from explosions that Russia, China, India,...
There is a lot space up there, and unlike the surface of the earth there is a third dimension to play with. AFAIK the biggest issues are the fragments from explosions that Russia, China, India, and the USA have caused by testing their capabilities for sat destruction. However, those fragments do have much more to hit with these new constellations.
Project Kuiper will consist of satellites at three different altitudes: there will be 784 satellites at 367 miles, 1,296 satellites at 379 miles, and 1,156 satellites at 391 miles. The Verge
In November 2018, SpaceX received US regulatory approval to deploy 7,518 broadband satellites, in addition to the 4,425 approved earlier. SpaceX's initial 4,425 satellites had been requested in the 2016 regulatory filings to orbit at altitudes of 1,110-kilometer (690 mi) to 1,325-kilometer (823 mi), well above the ISS. The new approval was for the addition of a very-low Earth orbit NGSO [non-geostationary satellite orbit] constellation, consisting of 7,518 satellites operating at altitudes from 335-kilometer (208 mi) to 346-kilometer (215 mi), below the ISS Wikipedia
Let's go crazy and assume a total of 100,000 satellites from all companies combined. Would you be really concerned about 100,000 cars on the 2D surface of the earth, each of which are tracked by radar, and only have Newtonian physics to worry about?
If I may ask, are you guys worried at all about these new constellations and thousands of new objects in LEO? I mean if Kessler Syndrome was a true concern at this point, the new constellations...
If I may ask, are you guys worried at all about these new constellations and thousands of new objects in LEO? I mean if Kessler Syndrome was a true concern at this point, the new constellations wouldn’t be allowed, correct? Do you have faith in this regulatory regime?
While this is an utter flight of fancy... Until I thought about AWS in space, I didn't think about the possible legal implications of a server in orbit. I know this constellation is not about...
While this is an utter flight of fancy... Until I thought about AWS in space, I didn't think about the possible legal implications of a server in orbit. I know this constellation is not about servers, just routers, but eventually there will be some, right?
From a founder of Protonmail about their legal responsibilities:
Essentially, unless you are located on a ship 100 km offshore, you will have to fall under the jurisdiction of some country and must follow the laws of that country. Almost all countries require companies to assist in some manner in criminal investigations, and Switzerland is no exception. Protonmail AMA
I know that the FCC and FAA regulate most satellite launches, but I wonder, will there eventually be some opening here?
Putting a server in space would have all sorts of disadvantages. Power supply, heat dissipation, maintenance and replacement, radiation if it is high up enough. However, it is probably a lot more...
Putting a server in space would have all sorts of disadvantages. Power supply, heat dissipation, maintenance and replacement, radiation if it is high up enough. However, it is probably a lot more feasible to put a server 100 km offshore with a communication constellation.
Interesting how there's not a single mention of SpaceX's similar endeavor.
This is going to be fun. Let's get three to five companies to launch several thousand satellites each all at once into the same general orbital paths. What could go wrong?
It's unlikely. These satellites will decay on their own if unmaintained, and they've been positioned very carefully. Plus, space is huge. Consider the size of the Earth and realize their orbital paths are significantly wider than that.
It would be the most hysterical answer to the Fermi Paradox if every other alien race shot up too many satellites to get anything else outside of orbit.
There is a lot space up there, and unlike the surface of the earth there is a third dimension to play with. AFAIK the biggest issues are the fragments from explosions that Russia, China, India, and the USA have caused by testing their capabilities for sat destruction. However, those fragments do have much more to hit with these new constellations.
Let's go crazy and assume a total of 100,000 satellites from all companies combined. Would you be really concerned about 100,000 cars on the 2D surface of the earth, each of which are tracked by radar, and only have Newtonian physics to worry about?
Now, I don't mean to accuse anyone here of 2 dimensional thinking. 🖖
EDIT: listen to the child comment by @spit-evil-olive-tips, not me, but here is a Kurzgesagt video on topic: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yS1ibDImAYU
Related thread on HN: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=20364928
Thank you for the very informed response! Is there something analogous to actuary tables for satellites which predict the chances of collisions?
If I may ask, are you guys worried at all about these new constellations and thousands of new objects in LEO? I mean if Kessler Syndrome was a true concern at this point, the new constellations wouldn’t be allowed, correct? Do you have faith in this regulatory regime?
While this is an utter flight of fancy... Until I thought about AWS in space, I didn't think about the possible legal implications of a server in orbit. I know this constellation is not about servers, just routers, but eventually there will be some, right?
From a founder of Protonmail about their legal responsibilities:
I know that the FCC and FAA regulate most satellite launches, but I wonder, will there eventually be some opening here?
Putting a server in space would have all sorts of disadvantages. Power supply, heat dissipation, maintenance and replacement, radiation if it is high up enough. However, it is probably a lot more feasible to put a server 100 km offshore with a communication constellation.
It's frustrating to see the night sky being polluted by a small collection of conceited, smug billionaires.