Astra proposes its own 13,000 satellite internet constellation
Capitalism in space: Astra, the startup smallsat rocket company that has yet to successfully complete an orbital launch, has filed with the FCC a proposal to launch a 13,000 satellite constellation for providing internet services globally.
Astra said its satellites would be built in-house, and would be launched on Astra’s own rockets. The satellites would be sent into orbital altitudes ranging from 236 to 435 miles (380 to 700 kilometers), and would be equipped with propulsion systems to aid in collision avoidance and post-operational deorbiting.
Potential applications for Astra’s high-bandwidth connectivity would include communications services, environmental and natural resource applications and national security missions.
Though Astra could certainly launch many of these satellites itself, it is unlikely it launch them all with its small rocket. Thus, more launch business for other rocket companies!
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Capitalism in space: Astra, the startup smallsat rocket company that has yet to successfully complete an orbital launch, has filed with the FCC a proposal to launch a 13,000 satellite constellation for providing internet services globally.
Astra said its satellites would be built in-house, and would be launched on Astra’s own rockets. The satellites would be sent into orbital altitudes ranging from 236 to 435 miles (380 to 700 kilometers), and would be equipped with propulsion systems to aid in collision avoidance and post-operational deorbiting.
Potential applications for Astra’s high-bandwidth connectivity would include communications services, environmental and natural resource applications and national security missions.
Though Astra could certainly launch many of these satellites itself, it is unlikely it launch them all with its small rocket. Thus, more launch business for other rocket companies!
Readers!
My annual February birthday fund-raising drive for Behind the Black is now over. Thank you to everyone who donated or subscribed. While not a record-setter, the donations were more than sufficient and slightly above average.
As I have said many times before, I can’t express what it means to me to get such support, especially as no one is required to pay anything to read my work. Thank you all again!
For those readers who like my work here at Behind the Black and haven't contributed so far, please consider donating or subscribing. My analysis of space, politics, and culture, taken from the perspective of an historian, is almost always on the money and ahead of the game. For example, in 2020 I correctly predicted that the COVID 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. Every one of those 2020 conclusions has turned out right.
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.
Competition is good. Hopefully this means we won’t get another tech monopoly.
To your attention!
How Astra is Building Lower-Cost Rockets | Factory Tour
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dmACuTqFkPY
“Take a tour of Astra’s factory and test facility in Alameda, California with VP of Operations, Bryson Gentile. Bryson explains how Astra hopes to lower costs while scaling up manufacturing of their rockets.”
Questioner
Good video. I especially like the line at 8:54 mark:
“Fundamentally, one of the things we’re trying to do is start to look at a rocket more like a product and not like an engineering project.”
It tells me that they are trying to be competitive in the market place — to gain bragging rights about the price per pound to orbit rather than bragging rights about the pounds to orbit.
Questioner-
Yes, very informative video!
speaking of, making-things….
“Master Hands”
Jam Handy (1936)-
Chevrolet Mass Production, Flint, Michigan.
https://youtu.be/Pr8rCNaASlc
31:48
“First 4K scan from a 35mm print.” “Selected for the 1999 National Film Registry of “artistically, culturally, and socially significant” films.”