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0 pointsethanbond3y ago0 comments

Lots and lots of satellites that keep passing overhead and you compose the images to abstract away the fact they came from multiple physical satellites.

Idk how many companies/govs have this capability but: https://www.palantir.com/offerings/metaconstellation/

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11 comments · 4 top-level

bboygravity3y ago· 3 in thread

There's only one company with that capability and that's the only organization in the world ever to achieve first stage (and soon all stage) reusability for LEO launches.

Because to achieve that you need to put a lot of stuff in orbit and the only way to affordably do that is cheap (reusable) launches.

ethanbondOP3y ago

I don't believe that's true. There are quite a few companies with tons of satellites in space. Walmart put up an array in 1987.

sgt1013y ago

The technical change is that you can build very useful, very small sats, which are cheap. Current SpaceX launch costs are lower, but like 1/2 price and 2x is not a big premium for a national security need.

georgeg233y ago

10x cost for Falcon 9 (actual internal cost) and 100x less for Starship when available..

georgeg233y ago· 2 in thread

Interesting that Palantir video shows SpaceX dragon as an example of "integrating with existing satellites". Plantir's Thiel and Elon go way back...

tough3y ago

They don't call it the Paypal Mafia just cause

georgeg233y ago

Pretty clear this guy is a key player in their mafia https://wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_D._Griffin#Career

Redoubts3y ago· 2 in thread

But then it’s hard to claim that such a system is targeting any one specific place.

ethanbondOP3y ago

Well, it’s certainly easy to claim that

*credibly :)

tomrod3y ago

Planet.com. Maxar. Etc.

CubeSats are cheap and effective.

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