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Elon Musk’s Next Mission: Internet Satellites

  • 09-11-2014 3:35am
    #1
    Harold Finchs Machine
    Closed Accounts Posts: 76 ✭✭


    wsj.com/articles/elon-musks-next-mission-internet-satellites-1415390062
    Billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk shook up the automotive and aerospace industries with electric cars and cheap rockets. Now, he is focused on satellites, looking at ways to make smaller, less-expensive models that can deliver Internet access across the globe, according to people familiar with the matter.

    Mr. Musk is working with Greg Wyler, a satellite-industry veteran and former Google Inc. executive, these people said. Mr. Wyler founded WorldVu Satellites Ltd., which controls a large block of radio spectrum.

    In talks with industry executives, Messrs. Musk and Wyler have discussed launching around 700 satellites, each weighing less than 250 pounds, the people said. That is about half the size of the smallest communications satellites now in commercial use. The satellite constellation would be 10 times the size of the largest current fleet, managed by Iridium Communications Inc.

    To be sure, the venture would face large financial, technical and regulatory hurdles, and industry officials estimate that it would cost $1 billion or more to develop the project. The people familiar with the matter cautioned the venture is in its formative stages, and Mr. Musk’s participation isn’t certain.


Comments

  • #2
    watty
    Registered Users Posts: 32,417 ✭✭✭✭watty


    SES-Astra have been working on this for years. O3B
    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/O3b_Networks
    O3b will primarily serve mobile operators and Internet service providers, providing for voice and data. The network will consist of eight Ka-based satellites orbiting at an altitude of 8,000 km, which is less than one quarter of the altitude of geostationary satellites; significantly reducing satellite latency

    There was originally meant to be very many more of these. Perhaps no money in it?
    Unlike WorldVu, some OB3 satellites are already operational.

    http://www.o3bnetworks.com/media-centre/faqs

    Yes, total capacity is fibre speed, but shared so much it's only Mobile speed.


    It's only a substitute for Mobile Internet in area with no infrastructure. Lower latency than the Geostationary satellites but much worse bandwith. More sensible than the stupid and arrogant Google Project Loon.

    Iridium went bust and the US military bought it. It is low capacity.

    So, not earth shattering, not new and no game changer.


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