Slots in geostationary orbit (GEO) have to do with the radio frequencies used by a satellite. When you aim a radio dish at a satellite, the dish can overhear a satellite up to 1/2 to 1-1/2 degrees away, depending upon the frequency (wavelength). This drives the spacing in GEO. My understanding of the spacing between individual satellites that share the same GEO slot (using different radio frequencies, avoiding interference with each other) is something like 75 to 100 km.

For lower orbits, where satellites cross orbits, there is an imaginary “keep away” zone for each satellite that is a few kilometers up and down, side to side, and a couple additional kilometers forward and backward. The problem is the difficulty in calculating where a satellite will be at any given time in the future. Thus, we don’t quite know the chance that two satellites collide. For circular orbits, we know fairly well where it will be in the forward-backward direction, because the speed is constant and the orbit runs like clockwork, but as the orbit becomes more elliptical, the uncertainty increases. There are perturbations that affect orbits, such as the gravitational pull of mountains. A mountain to the right of the satellite will tug it toward the right, ever so slightly changing the orbital plane’s angle relative to the equator. There is a clever algorithm that helps to approximate this, but errors over time add up. The orbits of each satellite or piece of space junk need to be updated as often as possible in order to reduce these errors. Atmospheric drag is another perturbation that adds uncertainty to the altitude of any low Earth orbit satellite.

Spacing of satellites in any one constellation depends upon the number of satellites in any one plane, the coverage desired, and cross coupling capabilities — communication between satellites. The spacing between altitudes of different constellations can limit the ability of the constellations to change the altitude of their various satellites in order to change or correct the spacing of their satellites. If one satellite fails, then the spare satellite in that plane needs to change its altitude in order to move into that empty slot, or all the remaining satellites need to shift forward or backward to respect themselves, which requires changing altitude in order to speed up or slow down.

Theoretically, multiple constellations could be placed in the same orbital planes at the same circular orbital heights, but in practice there would have to be excellent coordination between constellation companies to prevent collisions where the orbits of the various planes cross each other. Think of the tracks of two different railroads crossing each other, but the trains do not have the ability to slow down or wait for another train to finish crossing. It is easy for one company to coordinate these crossings, but two companies need to coordinate well and coordinate constantly. Does a pissing contest like the one between Amazon and SpaceX make this seem likely?

“Elon: “Don’t make me demonstrate what the ‘Chomper’ version of Starship is really for, Jeff!”

Intervals of altitude is the only possible way to divide LEO. And deorbiting will make higher LEO safer than lower.

This should appeal the government too as it is analogous to the way radio spectrum licensing evolved from large bands of spectrum to ever smaller bands as the technology to keep things separated got better and better. If SpaceX can prove superior orbital management, and I’m guessing they can, I’d press on this lever too. If they fail Blue Origin still has to deliver to hold them at bay, and if they succeed they can get essentially the orbit they want and raise the bar for Bezos at the same time, likely further delaying them even more : )

That’s the key. Musk is in the space business, Bezos is in the funding space business.

The same thing applies to geostationary orbital slots. The idea is to prevent companies from sitting on valuable orbital locations and keeping out productive companies. SpaceX is essentially announcing that it is a productive company that is being kept out of valuable orbital locations by a company that is not producing. It is a fair point. It is unfair to everyone to sit on unused valuable orbital locations.

Blue Origin should take the hint and start being a productive company. It has an immediate potential with New Shepard, and it should quicken the pace on its other projects. Blue Origin should put up (pun intended) or shut up.

Jay: I wonder if the president of Kuiper that used to be a VP for Starlink was one of the guys Musk fired because they were simply taking too long developing the system.

Sidenote: Also interesting in the Geek Wire article, Kuiper Systems is moving their offices to Redmond Washington, the same as Starlink. The President of Kuiper Systems use to be a VP over at Starlink.

Unlike Musk, Bezos has been more hands off with his rocket company – he was not in a position to turn himself into an aerospace engineer to ride herd on it. So what he ended up doing was hiring “the best people,” and those people were largely from legacy aerospace contractors, and a fair number of military people, for senior positions.

So Blue Origin ends up being a New Space company that operates a lot like an Old Space company. And having endless Bezos Cash also further reduces the sense of urgency.

Still, I hope they get to orbit. New Glenn is the most obvious possibility for offering real competition to SpaceX.

Parrots talk.
Eagles fly.

The new, more advanced Internet made possible worldwide by Starlink, and the innovative communication satellites that come after, WILL make Amazon obsolete and unable to buy himself part of the new capitalism movement that will leave him behind. Just as his obsolete satellites that were never launched…. Unless Joe Biden’s new executive order to “buy American” gets in the way. His orders are written in such a way that the government will “only buy” “liberal American” shutting out all conservative companies. The result will be our government buying less from America than it currently does. In this case, Amazon becomes the purchasing agent for the entire government.

It’s arguments like this which give me the realization of how titans would fight, how bloody it could get. Elon has spoken often how AI would be used against competitors. The race for our future has begun, One of the competitors is unethical with strong CIA/china connections. Parlor will be hung around his neck like an Albatraoz forever…

The same types of thought entered my mind. Possession is 9/10ths the law, etc.

Bob’s probably right, but the FCC should give Amazon a pretty short leash. So far they are just pie-in-the-sky.