SpaceX satellite development facility

The SpaceX satellite development facility is a proposed office in Redmond, Washington,to develop a new, low-cost, high-performance satellite bus to be used by SpaceX to implement a new space-based internet communication system.[1] The facility was announced by SpaceX on January 2015, stating that the communication satellite network would be capable of supporting the bandwidth to carry up to 50 percent of all backhaul communications traffic and up to 10 percent of local internet traffic in high-density cities. SpaceX has plans to also sell satellites that use the same satellite bus, satellites that might be used for scientific or exploratory purposes.[2]

The Seattle-area office will initially hire approximately 60 engineers, with the potential to increase to 1000 people in the next several years.[3]

The company plans to have the initial satellite constellation in orbit and operational by approximately 2020.[2]

Internet business opportunity

Two space entrepreneurs announced internet satellite ventures in the same week. In addition to SpaceX CEO Elon Musk announcing this project, serial-entrepreneur Richard Branson announced an investment in OneWeb, a similar constellation with approximately 700 satellites that has already procured communication frequency licenses for their broadcast spectrum.[3]

After the failure of previous satellite-to-consumer space ventures, satellite industry consultant Roger Rusch said "It's highly unlikely that you can make a successful business out of this."[3]

Financial analysts have questioned established geosynchronous communication satellite fleet operators in February 2015 as to how they intend to respond to the competitive threat of SpaceX/Google and OneWeb LEO communication satellites.[4]

Internet communication satellite characteristics

The internet communication satellites are expected to be in the smallsat-class of 100-to-500 kg (220-to-1,100 lb)-mass, which are intended to be orbiting at an altitude of approximately 1,100 kilometers (680 mi). Initial plans as of January 2015 are for the constellation to be made up of approximately 4000 satellites, more than twice as many operational satellites as are in orbit in January 2015.[2]

The satellites would be mass-produced, at much lower cost per unit of capability than existing satellites. Musk said "We’re going to try and do for satellites what we’ve done for rockets."[5] "In order to revolutionize space, we have to address both satellites and rockets."[2] "Smaller satellites are crucial to lowering the cost of space-based Internet and communications."[3]

In February 2015, SpaceX asked the US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to consider future innovative uses of the Ka-band spectrum before the FCC commits to 5G communications regulations that would create barriers to entry, since SpaceX is a new entrant to the satellite communications market. The SpaceX non-geostationary orbit (NGSO) communications satellite constellation will operate in the high frequency bands above 24 GHz, "where steerable earth station transmit antennas would have a wider geographic impact and significantly lower satellite altitudes magnify the impact of aggregate interference from terrestrial transmissions."[6]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Gates, Dominic (16 January 2015). "Elon Musk touts launch of ‘SpaceX Seattle’". Seattle Times. Retrieved 19 January 2015.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 SpaceX Seattle 2015, 16 January 2015.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 Petersen, Melody (16 January 2015). "Elon Musk and Richard Branson invest in satellite-Internet ventures". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 19 January 2015.
  4. ↑ de Selding, Peter B. (23 February 2015). "Wall Street Grills Fleet Operators Over Mega-Constellation Threat". Space News. Retrieved 24 February 2015.
  5. ↑ Hull, Dana; Johnsson, Julie (14 January 2015). "SpaceX chief Elon Musk has high hopes for Seattle office". Seattle Times. Retrieved 19 January 2015.
  6. ↑ Alleven, Monica (2015-02-22). "In 5G proceeding, SpaceX urges FCC to protect future satellite ventures". FierceWirelessTech. Retrieved 3 March 2015. SpaceX pointed out that it recently announced plans to build a network of 4,000 non-geostationary orbit (NGSO) communications satellites, which it will manufacture, launch and operate.