1/ "Our goal at SpaceX is not to go bankrupt," Elon Musk said at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona.
The most unknown and fundamental challenge with space-based businesses is economic. A survivable business model is a core element of product market fit. google.com/amp/s/amp.cnn.…
The most unknown and fundamental challenge with space-based businesses is economic. A survivable business model is a core element of product market fit. google.com/amp/s/amp.cnn.…
2/ There's only one geostationary orbit, and that is over the equator at 36,000 kilometers. By contrast, SpaceX satellites orbit at about 500 kilometers. Everything in space (almost) involves tread offs. Close means better propagation but it's hard to offer committed data rates.
3/ With the combination of a high minimum vertical angle to low Earth orbit satellites--to overcome blocking and signal problems with Ka or Ku bands--and the low altitude, geometry takes over, and a constellation of hundreds of satellites is required to continuously cover Earth.
4/ With low Earth orbit satellites like Starlink or OneWeb, continuous coverage of any point requires ~ global coverage. In order to provide service to advanced markets, the same quality and quantity of capacity must be provided to developing markets. Positive externality!
5/ If you look at SpaceX and Starlink you will see again and again Elon Musk turning assumptions on their head after bottoms up reasoning. For example:
1. Non expendable rocket.
2. Fly the latest tech not older proven ground tech
3. Rapid build in public product development.
1. Non expendable rocket.
2. Fly the latest tech not older proven ground tech
3. Rapid build in public product development.
6/ But the biggest changed assumption BY FAR entrepreneurs like Musk, Bezos and Branson bring to space businesses is: demand for space-based services can increase.
Lower prices = higher demand?
The answer is unknown. But the game is on to find out that answer. Big fun!
Lower prices = higher demand?
The answer is unknown. But the game is on to find out that answer. Big fun!
7/ What the space entrepreneurs represent is relevant to other grand challenges like climate, global education and health care. If these problems only get government jobs program style organizations working on them, the assumptions are not challenged and the result is stagnation.
8/ The older the contractor the greater the skepticism about increased customer demand.
The more the contractor relies on government contracts the greater the skepticism about increased customer demand.
The answer isn't known. We are about to find out. What could be more fun?
The more the contractor relies on government contracts the greater the skepticism about increased customer demand.
The answer isn't known. We are about to find out. What could be more fun?
9/ This link has is a list of what Musk said at MWC which includes this claim:
"Last year they delivered about 2/3 of all payload mass to orbit and this year they expect to deliver closer to 80%. China will deliver about 12% and others the remainder."
circleid.com/posts/20210702…
"Last year they delivered about 2/3 of all payload mass to orbit and this year they expect to deliver closer to 80%. China will deliver about 12% and others the remainder."
circleid.com/posts/20210702…
10/ Elon Musk's claim at MWC as I recall was that Starlink has the most advanced phased array technology
and not the most advanced antenna. Starlink definitely doesn't have the most advanced antenna and there are other phased array antennas that are arguably more advanced.
and not the most advanced antenna. Starlink definitely doesn't have the most advanced antenna and there are other phased array antennas that are arguably more advanced.
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