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0 pointsgeorgeg233y ago0 comments

And try to compete with Starship?

US can always launch more and for these LEO constellations it's all about numbers.

0 comments

6 comments · 2 top-level

moose_man3y ago· 4 in thread

They have their own space station dude. They also have tons of satellites, including LEO satellites. China is not some poor country.

PeterisP3y ago

Starlink is in a completely different class of "tons of satellites" as other platforms simply due to the SpaceX launch vehicles.

China has a total of 600-ish satellites together for all purposes. Starlink has 3500-ish right now, and the already licensed plans are for 12000 by 2026. When(if!) Starship starts launching satellites, a single launch can put in orbit more military satellites than China has ever launched, and it does not seem have a comparable capability in the near future.

dismalpedigree3y ago

I predict a Chinese version of Starship within 18 months of a successful launch. The Chinese industrial espionage machine is unmatched.

1 more reply

throw_nbvc12343y ago

If you don't have a large enough LEO constellation you will have sporadic and predictable coverage. This is especially true if you want global coverage to monitor a military like the USA with a global presence.

htag3y ago

1. Wouldn't these balloons provide even more sporadic coverage? They seem to be detectable.

2. These gaps would be measured in minutes, and are zero when you considered the combined coverage of all none-nato countries. Anything that we don't want seen is done under cover.

1 more reply

Mountain_Skies3y ago

The simple was to counter this is through polluting that space with debris. Sure, it clears out in a couple of years, but then you can just put up more of it. Getting into a arms race in orbit is a bad idea for everyone.

j / k navigate · click thread line to collapse

0 comments

6 comments · 2 top-level

moose_man3y ago· 4 in thread

They have their own space station dude. They also have tons of satellites, including LEO satellites. China is not some poor country.

PeterisP3y ago

Starlink is in a completely different class of "tons of satellites" as other platforms simply due to the SpaceX launch vehicles.

China has a total of 600-ish satellites together for all purposes. Starlink has 3500-ish right now, and the already licensed plans are for 12000 by 2026. When(if!) Starship starts launching satellites, a single launch can put in orbit more military satellites than China has ever launched, and it does not seem have a comparable capability in the near future.

dismalpedigree3y ago

I predict a Chinese version of Starship within 18 months of a successful launch. The Chinese industrial espionage machine is unmatched.

1 more reply

throw_nbvc12343y ago

If you don't have a large enough LEO constellation you will have sporadic and predictable coverage. This is especially true if you want global coverage to monitor a military like the USA with a global presence.

htag3y ago

1. Wouldn't these balloons provide even more sporadic coverage? They seem to be detectable.

2. These gaps would be measured in minutes, and are zero when you considered the combined coverage of all none-nato countries. Anything that we don't want seen is done under cover.

1 more reply

Mountain_Skies3y ago

The simple was to counter this is through polluting that space with debris. Sure, it clears out in a couple of years, but then you can just put up more of it. Getting into a arms race in orbit is a bad idea for everyone.

j / k navigate · click thread line to collapse