What is the actual technical reasoning? These all have active tracking, I can’t imagine it ever being an issue for missions (compared to defunct Soviet satellites with no tracking, like Kosmos 2221 and Kosmos 1408).
It’d be cool if Starlink could also be used to replace some base stations, although I guess the huge power requirements are an issue there.
It’s a shame to see technology held back due to political interference like this though. Hopefully China will achieve it instead. Imagine how much this can help the developing world - like high-speed internet for Cuba (if the USA doesn’t block it) and rural Nicaragua, etc.
I would expect it’s the sheer number that would be BELOW the ISS. Active tracking or not, there’s already plenty of things that influence when you can launch to the ISS. Having to navigate a route through 10,000 satellites between the earth and the ISS is just adding another obstacle they don’t need.
The article seems to make clear, they can get this if they clear it with NASA. The implication being NASA believes this will be a problem for them, and if I had to choose who to believe between a company run by Musk, and NASA. I’d choose NASA personally.
What is the actual technical reasoning? These all have active tracking, I can’t imagine it ever being an issue for missions (compared to defunct Soviet satellites with no tracking, like Kosmos 2221 and Kosmos 1408).
It’d be cool if Starlink could also be used to replace some base stations, although I guess the huge power requirements are an issue there.
It’s a shame to see technology held back due to political interference like this though. Hopefully China will achieve it instead. Imagine how much this can help the developing world - like high-speed internet for Cuba (if the USA doesn’t block it) and rural Nicaragua, etc.
I would expect it’s the sheer number that would be BELOW the ISS. Active tracking or not, there’s already plenty of things that influence when you can launch to the ISS. Having to navigate a route through 10,000 satellites between the earth and the ISS is just adding another obstacle they don’t need.
The article seems to make clear, they can get this if they clear it with NASA. The implication being NASA believes this will be a problem for them, and if I had to choose who to believe between a company run by Musk, and NASA. I’d choose NASA personally.