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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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.”