Starlink : Hardware Design / Manufacturing

[FutureSpaceTourist]

https://twitter.com/cosmicalchief/status/1628916650492801029

Starlinks in the payload processing building are about to be loaded onto a cargo truck. The Starlink box moved out earlier and may have some loaded into it, but looks like most of these are about to go away for now.
#Starbase #Starship #SpaceX
📸 Me for WAI Media @FelixSchlang

[virtuallynathan]

https://twitter.com/cosmicalchief/status/1628916650492801029

Starlinks in the payload processing building are about to be loaded onto a cargo truck. The Starlink box moved out earlier and may have some loaded into it, but looks like most of these are about to go away for now.
#Starbase #Starship #SpaceX
📸 Me for WAI Media @FelixSchlang

As I replied to his tweet, you can see they loaded something on the truck, but it's not satellites, it appears to be some kind of metal jig/stand.

[RedLineTrain]

Related to the terminals, STMicro of Switzerland just published its 2022 annual report.  For the first time, it stated that SpaceX is among its top 10 customers.  In 2022, it doubled capital expenditures (plant and equipment) in order to, in part, handle growth from SpaceX.

https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/932787/000156459023002312/stm-20f_20221231.htm

Here's a bit of related STMicro marketing material at pages 17-24.

https://cmd.st.com/static-files/28f9ad09-da99-45ab-b8e5-f49e0a515df3

[geza]

Do we have any more detailed information about the laser inter-sattelite links? Like distance, mirror diameter, pointing accuracy, power, bandwith... If Elon expects the first Starship flight to Mars in 4 years, then improvement of laser communication is needed by quite a few order of magnitude in a few years. Is there any info about this?

[JayWee]

New Dishy released:

https://www.starlink.com/specifications?spec=4


https://twitter.com/SawyerMerritt/status/1725569551490752556

BREAKING: SpaceX has introduced their next generation Starlink terminal.

• New design that's slimmer & more portable
• Starlink kit also includes Gen 3 router with improved range & speeds
• No motors. Simple kickstand
• 10% better field of view vs previous gen
• Higher IP67 waterproof rating
• Can operate in 60+mph wind speeds (vs 50+ before)

[FutureSpaceTourist]

https://twitter.com/starlinkinsider/status/1732264733548425665

Side-by-side comparison of the new Gen3 dish vs. the previous Gen2 Standard antenna

[heerohawwah]

I'm assuming this is legit as it came from the Starlink twitter account.  That camera view is not what I was expecting a starlink sat to look like, the solar array looks very... sketchy.  https://twitter.com/Starlink/status/1777441354588791206

[matthewkantar]

I'm assuming this is legit as it came from the Starlink twitter account.  That camera view is not what I was expecting a starlink sat to look like, the solar array looks very... sketchy.  https://twitter.com/Starlink/status/1777441354588791206

With thousands of those solar panels functioning on orbit, I guess looks ain’t everything.

[steveleach]

I'm assuming this is legit as it came from the Starlink twitter account.  That camera view is not what I was expecting a starlink sat to look like, the solar array looks very... sketchy. 

Is that one of the v2 minis?  I imagine they had to try every trick in the book to get weight and size down, given the capability was originally supposed to be supported by Starship-sized payloads.

[heerohawwah]

I'm assuming this is legit as it came from the Starlink twitter account.  That camera view is not what I was expecting a starlink sat to look like, the solar array looks very... sketchy. 

Is that one of the v2 minis?  I imagine they had to try every trick in the book to get weight and size down, given the capability was originally supposed to be supported by Starship-sized payloads.

Don't know if its v1 or v2, just looks more flimsy in the clip than I was expecting.  But really it doesn't matter, its not like there are lot forces involved, lol it's probably still wobbling from its initial deployment.  I think my biggest takeaway seeing the video is now believing the Starlink sats are definitely going too burn up entirely on re-entry, as nothing seen there is ever reaching the ground.   

[Asteroza]

I'm assuming this is legit as it came from the Starlink twitter account.  That camera view is not what I was expecting a starlink sat to look like, the solar array looks very... sketchy.  https://twitter.com/Starlink/status/1777441354588791206

A little less sketchy and more undamped stepper motor turning the array, is leading to oscillations, though that does imply a lack of stiffness. That has knock-on effects on the OISL's though as the beam directors will need to compensate, and some beam steering for the phased arrays too.

[FutureSpaceTourist]

https://twitter.com/michaelnicollsx/status/1795294312571486704

The latest @Starlink terminal (available in many markets, coming soon to others) is an excellent product - nice write-up by @PCMag .  Good performance, sleek, highly manufacturable, and comes with our WiFi-6 router.

twitter.com/pcmag/status/1795092682039054636

First Tests: How Fast Are Starlink's New Dish V4 and Router V3?

https://uk.pcmag.com/networking/152496/first-tests-how-fast-are-starlinks-new-dish-v4-and-router-v3

[FutureSpaceTourist]

https://twitter.com/olegkutkov/status/1802398697335951451

Starlink MINI (REV MINI1_PROD2) with built-in WiFi.
28.9x24.8 cm (11.4″ x 9.8″)

What version of WiFi? No external antenna option?

https://twitter.com/olegkutkov/status/1802441871576203664

802.11b/g/n/ax. Three built-in antennas. No external.

Edit to add:

What seems like our first look at the upcoming @Starlink mini product. Eager to learn more - will be a day one order for me!

https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1802529829826523209

It’s awesome. Will have massive demand in lower income parts of the world.

[RedLineTrain]

I wonder whether the Starlink Mini is the first step toward introducing Ka-band or V-band terminal communications.  The Mini is a relative energy sipper, at 20-40 watts.  This could allow the Ka-band or V-band hardware to be added to the terminal without busting the electricity budget.

Regardless, it's an interesting product.  Like Musk says, once manufacturing is scaled, it should have immense global demand.

[RedLineTrain]

Crossposting to show that SpaceX could be doubling or more its terminal manufacturing space in Bastrop.  Perhaps over one million square feet including both the original building and the addition.

Following up on the factory expansion, the other day, Joe Tegtmeyer did a drone flyover.  It appears that the pier drilling that they are doing is supportive of a much larger addition than 150,000 square feet -- perhaps an addition of 500,000 square feet footprint (equal to the original facility) or larger.