SpaceX tests black satellite to reduce ‘megaconstellation’ threat to astronomy

Re:SpaceX tests black satellite to reduce ‘megaconstellation... by gizmo385 on Thursday January 16, 2020 @01:59PM (#22067675)

Satellites and space-based telescopes are still monumentally expensive even if you ignore launch cost. The James Web Space Telescope has cost almost 10 billion dollars in development and won't even launch until (unless the schedule slips again) next year.

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Re:SpaceX tests black satellite to reduce ‘megaconstellation... by modeless on Thursday January 16, 2020 @02:33PM (#22068002)

One of the reasons JWST is expensive is its complex folding mechanism. Starship could launch a mirror bigger than JWST's in one piece.

Another reason is that they're only launching one and it has to work perfectly the first and only time it's launched. That level of reliability in a one-off product is incredibly expensive to achieve. With dramatically cheaper launches it would make sense to launch a much larger number of less reliable but much less expensive telescopes.

Another reason is politics, but SpaceX can't solve that one.

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Re:SpaceX tests black satellite to reduce ‘megaconstellation... by pawelk on Thursday January 16, 2020 @05:16PM (#22069609)

> it would make sense to launch a much larger number of less reliable but much less expensive telescopes

What if... SpaceX made up for the pollution they introduce by making the Starlink satellites look up the other way and push the captured data back to earth? The lens and CCD would be small, but with the massive volume (and clear sky) it could add up. Like the amateur set ups using an array of consumer grade cameras.

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Re:SpaceX tests black satellite to reduce ‘megaconstellation... by FeepingCreature on Thursday January 16, 2020 @02:48PM (#22068150)

Space-based telescopes are expensive in part because launches are expensive, making it more effective to spend a lot of money on single telescopes.

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