All Questions
Tagged with spacex low-earth-orbit
21
questions
27
votes
1
answer
5k
views
SpaceX's 4,425 satellite constellation - what's the method to the madness?
The BBC article SpaceX aims to launch internet from space discusses the SpaceX proposal for a dense array of over 4,000 LEO satellites for global internet coverage, and links to SpaceX non-...
18
votes
1
answer
1k
views
What was the distant bright light in the SpaceX webcast of Orbcomm OG2 deployment?
As I was watching the SpaceX launch today on YouTube, I have noticed a bright distant light as the satellites were being deployed. What was that light?
Also, after each deployment there was something ...
17
votes
1
answer
3k
views
Was SpaceX's launch of Formosat-5 more vertical than normal for any particular reason?
Reading both the abstract and the plain language summary of the recent paper published in the journal Space Weather Gigantic Circular Shock Acoustic Waves in the Ionosphere Triggered by the Launch of ...
11
votes
1
answer
1k
views
What definition of "LEO" does SpaceX use when specifying payload capability?
Please forgive me if I am asking a dumb question. I am a little curious about the orbital parameters of "LEO" used by SpaceX on many occasions specifically those related to payload capability. ...
10
votes
2
answers
2k
views
Is the Starlink array really visible from Earth?
I was browsing YouTube when I came across this video, recorded from a sky gazer who apparently spotted the Starlink satellites. In my lifetime, I haven't seen many satellites in the night skies (maybe ...
8
votes
1
answer
4k
views
How low is VLEO? (FCC's newest approval for SpaceX)
Engaget's SpaceX gets FCC approval to deploy thousands more internet satellites says
SpaceX's plan to build a global, high-speed wireless internet network using satellites has taken another step ...
7
votes
2
answers
369
views
What planning tools and techniques are used to avoid collisions in space during launches?
What tools and techniques are used to calculate as well as to ensure a collision free trajectory when space junk as well as real live useful satellites are so numerous? While the chances of hitting a ...
7
votes
0
answers
378
views
What caused this shadow on Falcon 9 stage 2 w/Jason-3 before circularization burn?
While the image appears bright, the light is just reflected sunlight (from the earth, per the webcast). The circularization burn doesn't start until about T+ 00:55:16 per the SpaceX webcast. But at ...
6
votes
1
answer
156
views
How problematic is debris for Starship storage/depots?
So with the recent announcement that Starship has been selected as NASA's HLS (which is pretty radical), it's raised a question in me that been around for a while.
For HLS; a Starship storage(depot) ...
5
votes
2
answers
817
views
What is the final conclusion about 'object M'? What happened?
I've looked at Is Iridium launch object M a test satellite? and I don't understand what seems to have happened.
The Iridium launch produced 11 orbiting objects when only 10 Iridium satellites were ...
5
votes
1
answer
582
views
A nicer way to download the positions of the Orbcomm-2 satellites
I'm trying to watch the Orbcomm-2 satellites evolve into a constellation. They were recently placed in orbit by SpaceX (their video here) and the details are discussed in this excellent question and ...
4
votes
2
answers
528
views
For constellations of circular LEO satellites, are there allocations of available "slots" in altitudes?
The BBC article SpaceX aims to launch internet from space discusses the SpaceX proposal for a dense array of 4,425 LEO satellites distributed among 83 orbital planes in five inclination groups as ...
4
votes
1
answer
344
views
Starlink Dishy parameters and satellite recognition
I have two questions:
What are the antenna parameters of Starlink dish antennas (like antenna gain, directivity, etc)?
Is there any way for me to know which satellite my Starlink dish is ...
4
votes
1
answer
2k
views
What are the orbits of all Starlink satellites launched?
Latest batch of SpaceX Starlink satellites went into elliptical orbit.
Using all available data (launch times, release times, applications by SpaceX etc), what are the orbits of all current 300 ...
4
votes
1
answer
216
views
Are these objects other satellites in the SpaceX webcast of Jason-3 deployment?
I realize there is a whole lot of stuff in low earth orbit, but didn't imagine that it would be so visible. Here are the two brighter objects that passed by during the deployment of Jason-3 by SpaceX. ...