Adding up the size of all the StarLink V2 components....the new sat looks to be very large with 5 X 5 meter cell antennas (one element I did not see or hear from Elon is just how many cell antennas will be on each StarLink V2 sats.... seems we are assuming just 1 cell antenna per V2 sat..... need to confirm this .... could be two or more....) plus adding in the broadband antennas, main sat body, solar arrays, lasers, .... will be large.... size of a 737?
Quote from: WindWatcherX on 08/26/2022 03:23 amAdding up the size of all the StarLink V2 components....the new sat looks to be very large with 5 X 5 meter cell antennas (one element I did not see or hear from Elon is just how many cell antennas will be on each StarLink V2 sats.... seems we are assuming just 1 cell antenna per V2 sat..... need to confirm this .... could be two or more....) plus adding in the broadband antennas, main sat body, solar arrays, lasers, .... will be large.... size of a 737?I'm a bit weak on phased-arrary antenna theory, but I think the same physical antenna can form multiple beams simultaneously. The part that seems like black magic to me is how an ordinary cell phone can have enough power to send a usable signal to a satellite.
Quote from: DanClemmensen on 08/26/2022 03:37 amQuote from: WindWatcherX on 08/26/2022 03:23 amAdding up the size of all the StarLink V2 components....the new sat looks to be very large with 5 X 5 meter cell antennas (one element I did not see or hear from Elon is just how many cell antennas will be on each StarLink V2 sats.... seems we are assuming just 1 cell antenna per V2 sat..... need to confirm this .... could be two or more....) plus adding in the broadband antennas, main sat body, solar arrays, lasers, .... will be large.... size of a 737?I'm a bit weak on phased-arrary antenna theory, but I think the same physical antenna can form multiple beams simultaneously. The part that seems like black magic to me is how an ordinary cell phone can have enough power to send a usable signal to a satellite.Antennas work both ways. A big antenna in orbit can also receive faint signals on the ground.
Quote from: Robotbeat on 08/26/2022 03:47 amQuote from: DanClemmensen on 08/26/2022 03:37 amQuote from: WindWatcherX on 08/26/2022 03:23 amAdding up the size of all the StarLink V2 components....the new sat looks to be very large with 5 X 5 meter cell antennas (one element I did not see or hear from Elon is just how many cell antennas will be on each StarLink V2 sats.... seems we are assuming just 1 cell antenna per V2 sat..... need to confirm this .... could be two or more....) plus adding in the broadband antennas, main sat body, solar arrays, lasers, .... will be large.... size of a 737?I'm a bit weak on phased-arrary antenna theory, but I think the same physical antenna can form multiple beams simultaneously. The part that seems like black magic to me is how an ordinary cell phone can have enough power to send a usable signal to a satellite.Antennas work both ways. A big antenna in orbit can also receive faint signals on the ground.That's true because the big antenna has "high gain", and that is true because a bigger antenna is looking at a smaller "cell". But that in turn implies that they need lots of cells to cover the came satellite footprint.
Forget 5G wireless, SpaceX and T-Mobile want to offer Zero-G coverage"So it's really quite a difficult technical challenge."ERIC BERGER - 8/26/2022, 12:40 PMBOCA CHICA, Texas—SpaceX and T-Mobile announced an ambitious plan on Thursday evening to provide ubiquitous connectivity to anyone with a cell phone from space.The project would pair SpaceX's Starlink satellite technology with the second largest wireless carrier in the United States, T-Mobile US, and its mid-band spectrum, mobile network, and large customer base.
Good summary
Lot of folks bringing up AST Spacemobile being able to offer a higher bandwidth service for mobile connection. So how are they able to do this? Bigger satellites than SpaceX? More powerful phone handsets? And how can they do so with an order of magnitude fewer satellites than Starlink?In short, what is the competitive advantage they have in this space that SpaceX cannot overcome with a bit of focused effort?
Quote from: M.E.T. on 08/26/2022 03:11 amLot of folks bringing up AST Spacemobile being able to offer a higher bandwidth service for mobile connection. So how are they able to do this? Bigger satellites than SpaceX? More powerful phone handsets? And how can they do so with an order of magnitude fewer satellites than Starlink?In short, what is the competitive advantage they have in this space that SpaceX cannot overcome with a bit of focused effort?I made a small comparisonProvider Rate/cell Antenna area OrbitAST 120Mbps 450m2 720kmSpaceX 4Mbps 25m2 340/550kmIn short, higher orbit and significantly larger antenna, though I used to think SpaceX would be able to provide this kind of service with just 10m2 or less antenna.
If one shell can support the cell service then having a different shell be made up of mini-sats may not matter. They said the initial Gen2 deployment would be three of the shells.
Elon made a bit of a mistake in designing the V2 constellation.Disclaimer: I am a founder of Lynk.The mini-V2 sats launched on F9 will not support handhelds. So, to the extent that Starlink V2 goes up on F9, T-Mobile has no service.Therefore, the later Starship enters operational status, the later T-Mobile has a viable offering.What happens if 40% of the 2nd gen constellation is initially made up of mini V2 sats that don’t support handhelds, and then the rest (full V2 sats) are launched on Starship? Does Elon replace the first 40%? Or, wait for the 3rd gen satellites?
Starlink are all short-lived, and continuous replacement and upgrades is already planned. Where is it documented what is or is not on the 'mini' Starlink V2?
Quote from: FutureSpaceTourist on 08/26/2022 03:11 amIt’s interesting as SpaceX seem to be making a notable investment to enable this and yet T-mobile plan to add for free to their most common plans. So must limit amount T-mobile are prepared to pay SpaceX. Of course Elon is no stranger to big bets, so probably looking at pay off longer-term.T-Mobile could also be using this as a "loss leader" of sorts to try and get more people on their plans. I imagine this deal was good enough money for SpaceX but relative pocket change for the telecom industry.
It’s interesting as SpaceX seem to be making a notable investment to enable this and yet T-mobile plan to add for free to their most common plans. So must limit amount T-mobile are prepared to pay SpaceX. Of course Elon is no stranger to big bets, so probably looking at pay off longer-term.