New satellites are messing up our night sky

time2, good point about the need for reflectivity. I thought they were mirrored just to look cool. ;)

pnichols wrote:
So ... satellites up there at only 217 (342?) miles are going to stay in orbit for how many years? (Of course Elon is probably developing a ground or spacecraft based laser cannon to melt them away near their end of service.)

The International Space Station is at around the same height orbit. It's a lot larger than any of these very small satellites.

So...do you have WiFi in your house? Use any kind of Bluetooth devices?

You of course don't hold your cell phone to your head right?

profdant139 wrote:
But couldn't they have painted them with flat black spray paint??

Heat absorption is an issue in the vacuum of space.

DallasSteve wrote:

pnichols wrote:

Reisender wrote:

pnichols wrote:

pianotuna wrote:
Phil,

The deorbit is why he wants to launch 42,000 of them over a period of years.

Don,

Will a satellite melt away from those low alttitudes when it falls ... or should our descendants plan on living under heavy duty titanium roofs?

(Don't get me started on whether or not mankind "absolutely needs" the Internet on a world scale in order to survive.)

No more than we absolutely need electricity. But world wide internet improves access to healthcare for billions, education, employment, cultural awareness and a myriad of other things.

It sounds like you're an Internet convert. I just bought my first smartphone ... but I live in a place in the world where the Internet for me offers primarily only access to convenience - not necessity - and I've for some time begun to notice the every-growing downside to the Internet.

I don't see the long range logic in trying to compare electrical power for everyone to exposing everyone to the social and marketing aspects of the Internet. There are way more important things in life than for each and every person to know everything the whole world is up to on an instantaneous basis. IMHO, other interaction means are more suitable for enhancing the lives of people everywhere.

That's interesting. You know that you posted that message on the Internet, right?

I posted that message in one of the obvious good corners of the Internet! :)

I also make those same kind of comments directly to people using voice communications around RV campfires, at family get togethers, at parties with friends, and when visiting other states and countries doing hands-on helping of people. I'm also exposed to a lot of constructive communication over the landline phone, on our RV's CB radios, on commercial radio stations, and on the cable TV.

pnichols wrote:

Reisender wrote:

pnichols wrote:

pianotuna wrote:
Phil,

The deorbit is why he wants to launch 42,000 of them over a period of years.

Don,

Will a satellite melt away from those low alttitudes when it falls ... or should our descendants plan on living under heavy duty titanium roofs?

(Don't get me started on whether or not mankind "absolutely needs" the Internet on a world scale in order to survive.)

No more than we absolutely need electricity. But world wide internet improves access to healthcare for billions, education, employment, cultural awareness and a myriad of other things.

It sounds like you're an Internet convert. I just bought my first smartphone ... but I live in a place in the world where the Internet for me offers primarily only access to convenience - not necessity - and I've for some time begun to notice the every-growing downside to the Internet.

I don't see the long range logic in trying to compare electrical power for everyone to exposing everyone to the social and marketing aspects of the Internet. There are way more important things in life than for each and every person to know everything the whole world is up to on an instantaneous basis. IMHO, other interaction means are more suitable for enhancing the lives of people everywhere.

That's interesting. You know that you posted that message on the Internet, right?

Reisender wrote:

pnichols wrote:

pianotuna wrote:
Phil,

The deorbit is why he wants to launch 42,000 of them over a period of years.

Don,

Will a satellite melt away from those low alttitudes when it falls ... or should our descendants plan on living under heavy duty titanium roofs?

(Don't get me started on whether or not mankind "absolutely needs" the Internet on a world scale in order to survive.)

No more than we absolutely need electricity. But world wide internet improves access to healthcare for billions, education, employment, cultural awareness and a myriad of other things.

It sounds like you're an Internet convert. I just bought my first smartphone ... but I live in a place in the world where the Internet for me offers primarily only access to convenience - not necessity - and I've for some time begun to notice the every-growing downside to the Internet.

I don't see the long range logic in trying to compare electrical power for everyone to exposing everyone to the social and marketing aspects of the Internet. There are way more important things in life than for each and every person to know everything the whole world is up to on an instantaneous basis. IMHO, other interaction means are more suitable for enhancing the lives of people everywhere.

pnichols wrote:

pianotuna wrote:
Phil,

The deorbit is why he wants to launch 42,000 of them over a period of years.

Don,

Will a satellite melt away from those low alttitudes when it falls ... or should our descendants plan on living under heavy duty titanium roofs?

(Don't get me started on whether or not mankind "absolutely needs" the Internet on a world scale in order to survive.)

No more than we absolutely need electricity. But world wide internet improves access to healthcare for billions, education, employment, cultural awareness and a myriad of other things.

pianotuna wrote:
Phil,

The deorbit is why he wants to launch 42,000 of them over a period of years.

Don,

Will a satellite melt away from those low alttitudes when it falls ... or should our descendants plan on living under heavy duty titanium roofs?

(Don't get me started on whether or not mankind "absolutely needs" the Internet on a world scale in order to survive.)

Phil,

The deorbit is why he wants to launch 42,000 of them over a period of years.

babock wrote:

pnichols wrote:
Hmmmm .... I wonder how folks are going to like the latency issues with satellite Internet?

Geosynchronous is 22,236 miles. The Spacex satellites are at 217 miles.

pnichols wrote:
BTW, how's the research going into the/any subtle RF effects on humans?

If you are really worried about that, stop using your cell phone and turn off your wireless router. Turn off your computer while you are at it!

So ... satellites up there at only 217 (342?) miles are going to stay in orbit for how many years? (Of course Elon is probably developing a ground or spacecraft based laser cannon to melt them away near their end of service.)

That reminds me, what line-of-sight RF frequency bands will those SpaceX satellites transmit/receive at ... as compared to a cell phone, a wireless router, and a laptop computer? (I assume the medical research covers both cumulative RF strength and blended frequencies that bombard us humans?)