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Bankrupt OneWeb seeks license for 48,000 satellites, even more than SpaceX
SpaceX and OneWeb have asked for US permission to launch tens of thousands of additional satellites into low Earth orbit.
SpaceX's application to launch 30,000 satellites—in addition to the nearly 12,000 it already has permission for—is consistent with SpaceX's previously announced plans for Starlink.
OneWeb's application to launch nearly 48,000 satellites is surprising because the satellite-broadband company filed for bankruptcy in March. OneWeb is highly unlikely to launch a significant percentage of these satellites under its current structure, as the company reportedly "axed most of its staff" when it filed for bankruptcy and says it intends to use bankruptcy proceedings "to pursue a sale of its business in order to maximize the value of the company." Getting FCC approval to launch more satellites could improve the value of OneWeb's assets and give more options to whoever buys the company.
Previously:
SpaceX Approved to Deploy 1 Million U.S. Starlink Terminals; OneWeb Reportedly Considers Bankruptcy
OneWeb Goes Bankrupt, Lays Off Staff, Will Sell Satellite-Broadband Business
(Score: 5, Interesting) by quietus on Thursday May 28 2020, @03:06PM (2 children)
It took us quite a while to realize putting chemical by-products and waste from manufacturing industries into rivers and streams ain't such a good idea.
Now we're repeating that whole charade, for a pissing contest between companies with a dodgy business model, if any at that. And this is just US companies: the Chinese evidently want in on it too, and so, soon, will every third-world nation and billionaire with a dick problem.
So, 42,000 and 48,000, makes 90,000 announced, for this year alone. We can't have less announcements next year, and the year after that, ofcourse: that would be a bad sign for the economy. So, roughly half a million of the damn things in about 5 years, a conservative estimate. And ofcourse, they'll have completely safe, efficient, and working, de-orbiting technology.
What is it with the Silicon Valley crowd and their fanbois .. do you feel nervous when you can't tweet your so important opinion, for even a couple of days? Do you guys ever get outside, and simply watch the wind ruffle tree leaves? Study a bee visiting a flower, maybe? Can you still do that for longer than 5 minutes, without taking a pic?
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday May 28 2020, @05:37PM (1 child)
Yep, this is depressing news.
Thugh what is with your anger at "the Silicon Valley crowd"? As we've seen over the years this isn't a SV thing, it is the cultural adoption of convenient tech.
(Score: 2) by quietus on Thursday May 28 2020, @06:29PM
I use the Silicon Valley crowd as a shorthand [term] for the belief that all technological progress is inevitably good, and all problems can be solved through technology; technological progress equates to human progress. It smells of a doctrine; the one that led to the collectivisation of agriculture and the Great Leap Forward.