Lynn McGuire
2021-04-21 01:40:47 UTC
"Starlink is a very big deal"
https://caseyhandmer.wordpress.com/2019/11/02/starlink-is-a-very-big-deal/
"One final point is to compare the revenue per Watt of solar power
generated for Starlink. Each satellite’s solar array is about 60 sqm
according to photographs on the website, which means that they generate
an average of around 3kW, or 4.5kWh, over an entire orbit. With a
ballpark estimate of $1000 of revenue per orbit, each satellite is
generating about $220/kWh. This is 10,000 times the wholesale cost of
solar-generated electricity, once again demonstrating that space-based
solar power is a losing proposition. Modulating microwaves with data is
an enormous value-add!"
Apparently, SpaceX is starting another business to run next to StarLink,
StarPower. Solar Power satellites to portable microwave receivers. It
will probably melt the snow off your roof too.
Jerry Pournelle would have been so happy.
Lynn
https://caseyhandmer.wordpress.com/2019/11/02/starlink-is-a-very-big-deal/
"One final point is to compare the revenue per Watt of solar power
generated for Starlink. Each satellite’s solar array is about 60 sqm
according to photographs on the website, which means that they generate
an average of around 3kW, or 4.5kWh, over an entire orbit. With a
ballpark estimate of $1000 of revenue per orbit, each satellite is
generating about $220/kWh. This is 10,000 times the wholesale cost of
solar-generated electricity, once again demonstrating that space-based
solar power is a losing proposition. Modulating microwaves with data is
an enormous value-add!"
Apparently, SpaceX is starting another business to run next to StarLink,
StarPower. Solar Power satellites to portable microwave receivers. It
will probably melt the snow off your roof too.
Jerry Pournelle would have been so happy.
Lynn