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On Nov. 15, 2016 SpaceX filed to the FCC the frequency application for their LEO constellation of 4,425 satellites to provide low latency satellitar Internet. There would be an initial deployment of 1,600 satellites followed by the other 2,825.
No launch vehicle data is provided, so they could launch using Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy for the initial deployment, then use a cargo version of the enormous ITS Spaceship to drop off the remainder. Once refuelled, it would have enough delta-V for several orbital plane changes before returning to land.
2 test birds launched this year, 2 more early next year. Built at their new Seattle factory, which will build commsats for both Earth and Mars use. It will also build advanced Hall-effect electric charged particle thrusters.
Comms development in the Palo Alto facility, with about 10 former Qualcomm top-tier engineers running the show. Qualcomm didn't like that much.
Flat & thin self-beam steering solid state phased array antennas, capable of seeing several satellites at a time. Satellite-to-satellite routing.
In-space data storage which can connect to NASA's Solar System Internet initiative, Delay-tolerant networking (DTN) node 1 already on ISS, which could extend its reach to Mars.
Google is in to the tune of nearly $1 billion.
SpaceX has designed its system to achieve the following objectives:
- Up to 1,400 beams per satellite.
- Each satellite is 386 kg with a 1.2 x 1.8 x 4.0 meter bus.
- High capacity: Each satellite in the SpaceX System provides aggregate downlink capacity to users ranging from 17 to 23 Gbps, depending on the gain of the user terminal involved. Assuming an average of 20 Gbps, the 1600 satellites in the Initial Deployment would have a total aggregate capacity of 32 Tbps. SpaceX will periodically improve the satellites over the course of the multi-year deployment of the system, which may further increase capacity.
- High adaptability: The system leverages phased array technology to dynamically steer a large pool of beams to focus capacity where it is needed. Optical inter-satellite links permit flexible routing of traffic on-orbit. Further, the constellation ensures that frequencies can be reused effectively across different satellites to enhance the flexibility and capacity and robustness of the overall system.
- Broadband services: The system will be able to provide broadband service at speeds of up to 1 Gbps per end user. The system’s use of low-Earth orbits will allow it to target latencies of approximately 25-35 ms.
- Worldwide coverage: With deployment of the first 800 satellites, the system will be able to provide U.S. and international broadband connectivity; when fully deployed, the system will add capacity and availability at the equator and poles for truly global
coverage.
- Low cost: SpaceX is designing the overall system from the ground up with cost effectiveness and reliability in mind, from the design and manufacturing of the space and ground-based elements, to the launch and deployment of the system using SpaceX launch services, development of the user terminals, and end-user subscription rates.
- Ease of use: SpaceX’s phased-array user antenna design will allow for a low-profile user terminal that is easy to mount and operate on walls or roofs.
No launch vehicle data is provided, so they could launch using Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy for the initial deployment, then use a cargo version of the enormous ITS Spaceship to drop off the remainder. Once refuelled, it would have enough delta-V for several orbital plane changes before returning to land.
2 test birds launched this year, 2 more early next year. Built at their new Seattle factory, which will build commsats for both Earth and Mars use. It will also build advanced Hall-effect electric charged particle thrusters.
Comms development in the Palo Alto facility, with about 10 former Qualcomm top-tier engineers running the show. Qualcomm didn't like that much.
Flat & thin self-beam steering solid state phased array antennas, capable of seeing several satellites at a time. Satellite-to-satellite routing.
In-space data storage which can connect to NASA's Solar System Internet initiative, Delay-tolerant networking (DTN) node 1 already on ISS, which could extend its reach to Mars.
Google is in to the tune of nearly $1 billion.
SpaceX has designed its system to achieve the following objectives:
- Up to 1,400 beams per satellite.
- Each satellite is 386 kg with a 1.2 x 1.8 x 4.0 meter bus.
- High capacity: Each satellite in the SpaceX System provides aggregate downlink capacity to users ranging from 17 to 23 Gbps, depending on the gain of the user terminal involved. Assuming an average of 20 Gbps, the 1600 satellites in the Initial Deployment would have a total aggregate capacity of 32 Tbps. SpaceX will periodically improve the satellites over the course of the multi-year deployment of the system, which may further increase capacity.
- High adaptability: The system leverages phased array technology to dynamically steer a large pool of beams to focus capacity where it is needed. Optical inter-satellite links permit flexible routing of traffic on-orbit. Further, the constellation ensures that frequencies can be reused effectively across different satellites to enhance the flexibility and capacity and robustness of the overall system.
- Broadband services: The system will be able to provide broadband service at speeds of up to 1 Gbps per end user. The system’s use of low-Earth orbits will allow it to target latencies of approximately 25-35 ms.
- Worldwide coverage: With deployment of the first 800 satellites, the system will be able to provide U.S. and international broadband connectivity; when fully deployed, the system will add capacity and availability at the equator and poles for truly global
coverage.
- Low cost: SpaceX is designing the overall system from the ground up with cost effectiveness and reliability in mind, from the design and manufacturing of the space and ground-based elements, to the launch and deployment of the system using SpaceX launch services, development of the user terminals, and end-user subscription rates.
- Ease of use: SpaceX’s phased-array user antenna design will allow for a low-profile user terminal that is easy to mount and operate on walls or roofs.
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