August 23, 2024 Quick space link
Courtesy of BtB’s stringer Jay. This post is also an open thread. I welcome my readers to post any comments or additional links relating to any space issues, even if unrelated to the links below.
Only one today from Jay. A quiet day.
- Mynaric’s manufacturing woes threaten to delay production of U.S. military satellites
The German company is to supply the optical terminals that the satellites will use to send and receive laser signal, and its contract involves supplying these terminals to four other companies in their contracts with the Pentagon. It apparently is having problems scaling up the production of these units from making a few to many in order to serve a plethora of constellations.
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In 2020 when the world panicked over COVID I wrote that the panic was unnecessary, that the virus was apparently simply a variation of the flu, that masks were not simply pointless but if worn incorrectly were a health threat, that the lockdowns were a disaster and did nothing to stop the spread of COVID. Only in the past year have some of our so-called experts in the health field have begun to recognize these facts.
Your help allows me to do this kind of intelligent analysis. I take no advertising or sponsors, so my reporting isn't influenced by donations by established space or drug companies. Instead, I rely entirely on donations and subscriptions from my readers, which gives me the freedom to write what I think, unencumbered by outside influences.
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Courtesy of BtB’s stringer Jay. This post is also an open thread. I welcome my readers to post any comments or additional links relating to any space issues, even if unrelated to the links below.
Only one today from Jay. A quiet day.
- Mynaric’s manufacturing woes threaten to delay production of U.S. military satellites
The German company is to supply the optical terminals that the satellites will use to send and receive laser signal, and its contract involves supplying these terminals to four other companies in their contracts with the Pentagon. It apparently is having problems scaling up the production of these units from making a few to many in order to serve a plethora of constellations.
Readers!
Please consider supporting my work here at Behind the Black. Your support allows me the freedom and ability to analyze objectively the ongoing renaissance in space, as well as the cultural changes -- for good or ill -- that are happening across America. Fourteen years ago I wrote that SLS and Orion were a bad ideas, a waste of money, would be years behind schedule, and better replaced by commercial private enterprise. Only now does it appear that Washington might finally recognize this reality.
In 2020 when the world panicked over COVID I wrote that the panic was unnecessary, that the virus was apparently simply a variation of the flu, that masks were not simply pointless but if worn incorrectly were a health threat, that the lockdowns were a disaster and did nothing to stop the spread of COVID. Only in the past year have some of our so-called experts in the health field have begun to recognize these facts.
Your help allows me to do this kind of intelligent analysis. I take no advertising or sponsors, so my reporting isn't influenced by donations by established space or drug companies. Instead, I rely entirely on donations and subscriptions from my readers, which gives me the freedom to write what I think, unencumbered by outside influences.
You can support me either by giving a one-time contribution or a regular subscription. There are four ways of doing so:
1. Zelle: This is the only internet method that charges no fees. All you have to do is use the Zelle link at your internet bank and give my name and email address (zimmerman at nasw dot org). What you donate is what I get.
2. Patreon: Go to my website there and pick one of five monthly subscription amounts, or by making a one-time donation.
3. A Paypal Donation or subscription:
4. Donate by check, payable to Robert Zimmerman and mailed to
Behind The Black
c/o Robert Zimmerman
P.O.Box 1262
Cortaro, AZ 85652
You can also support me by buying one of my books, as noted in the boxes interspersed throughout the webpage or shown in the menu above.
As Elon has repeatedly said, “Prototypes are easy. Production is hard.” If Mynaric proves unequal to the challenge of production, there’s a company in Hawthorne with a name ending in “X” that would be both ready and willing to make up the slack as it is also in the business of making such equipment – in quantity.
Starlink crew returning on Dragon in February.
https://x.com/sciguyspace/status/1827393747010908548?s=46
Gary–
Marooned (1969)
https://youtu.be/yD1hbplN4DE
Not to be mean, but it would be super helpful is some other company had space rated lasers for communication that they were selling. Off the shelf. From a production line that has already built thousands and plans to build 7000+ more at least.
I imagine those would be price competitive.
https://www.cnbc.com/2024/03/19/spacex-says-it-plans-to-sell-satellite-laser-links-commercially.html
Oops, don’t tell Boeing.