Discussion:
"SpaceX: Lowering Starlink Satellite Orbits Reduces Impact on Astronomy"
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Lynn McGuire
2025-01-09 23:02:20 UTC
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"SpaceX: Lowering Starlink Satellite Orbits Reduces Impact on Astronomy"

https://www.pcmag.com/news/spacex-lowering-starlink-satellite-orbits-reduces-impact-on-astronomy

“The company has been working with an observatory and the US National
Science Foundation to study the effects of lowering its satellites to
350km (217 miles) versus 550km.”

Incoming, everybody duck !

Lynn
Cryptoengineer
2025-01-10 03:26:42 UTC
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Post by Lynn McGuire
"SpaceX: Lowering Starlink Satellite Orbits Reduces Impact on Astronomy"
https://www.pcmag.com/news/spacex-lowering-starlink-satellite-orbits-
reduces-impact-on-astronomy
“The company has been working with an observatory and the US National
Science Foundation to study the effects of lowering its satellites to
350km (217 miles) versus 550km.”
Incoming, everybody duck !
That's kind of the idea. They want the satellites low enough that even
if one goes completely dead, it will re-enter naturally after about 6
years.

The satellites are designed so that they *should* burn up completely
on re-entry.

At the moment, the second stage of the Dragon booster does have
parts that can reach the ground, but they try to de-orbit them over
the south pacific, near Point Nemo. If/when SpaceX shifts to the
Starship, this will no longer be an issue.

pt
Lynn McGuire
2025-01-10 04:34:07 UTC
Permalink
Post by Cryptoengineer
Post by Lynn McGuire
"SpaceX: Lowering Starlink Satellite Orbits Reduces Impact on Astronomy"
https://www.pcmag.com/news/spacex-lowering-starlink-satellite-orbits-
reduces-impact-on-astronomy
“The company has been working with an observatory and the US National
Science Foundation to study the effects of lowering its satellites to
350km (217 miles) versus 550km.”
Incoming, everybody duck !
That's kind of the idea. They want the satellites low enough that even
if one goes completely dead, it will re-enter naturally after about 6
years.
The satellites are designed so that they *should* burn up completely
on re-entry.
At the moment, the second stage of the Dragon booster does have
parts that can reach the ground, but they try to de-orbit them over
the south pacific, near Point Nemo. If/when SpaceX shifts to the
Starship, this will no longer be an issue.
pt
The lower the orbit, the lower the latency.

My time to Starlink right now is 20 ms. Pretty good.

Lynn

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