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TeraWave Satellite Communications Network

blueorigin.com

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Re: TeraWave Satellite Communications Network

#11

Post by grvbck »

From a technical standpoint: amazing achievement, and the tech nerd in me is in awe. But it feels like a lot of people don't understand (or care?) how much these companies are polluting the space.

Before the "new wave", in 2010-2015 or so, Earth had around 1500 active satellites in orbit, and another 2,000-2,500 defunct ones.

Starlink now has almost 9,500 satellites in orbit, has approvals for 12,000 and long-term plans for up to 42,000. Blue Origin has added 5,500 to that. Amazon plans for 3,000. China has two megaconstellations under construction, for a total of 26,000, and has filed for even larger systems, up to 200,000 satellites.

We might be the last generation that is able to watch the stars.

Re: TeraWave Satellite Communications Network

#12

Post by grvbck »

grvbck wrote: post #11

From a technical standpoint: amazing achievement, and the tech nerd in me is in awe. But it feels like a lot of people don't understand (or care?) how much these companies are polluting the space. Before the "new wave", in 2010-2015 or so, Earth had around 1500 active satellites in orbit, and another 2,000-2,500 defunct ones. Starlink now has almost 9,500 satellites in orbit, has approvals for 12,000 and long-term pl…

(Also, for a frame of reference as to how large these numbers are: the entire gps network operates on 31 satellites.)

Re: TeraWave Satellite Communications Network

#13

Post by daemonologist »

BrianGragg wrote: post #6
0xbeefcab wrote: post #2

Interesting there is an optical networking option for end users (claims ~6TBps). Maybe a really dumb question, but how would the end user's ground station maintain connectivity during cloudy weather? Do they have cloud-penetrating lasers from the MEO satellites? Would that interfere with aircraft, astronomy tools, etc? Some short googling says they have lasers that clear a path for a data carrying beam, but that seem…

I think customer speeds is 144 and the 6Tb is their ground links to their stations. That is my take on it at least as its not super clear. I'm curious as to how it works as well.

My read was that they're going to have 144 Gbps RF for both regular users and their ground station gateways, and 6 Tbps optical for satellite-satellite back haul, but then you can also buy direct ground-MEO access to a back haul link. (Presumably MEO-only because it's hard to maintain the link to a fast-moving LEO satellite?)

They don't seem to mention using optical for their own ground stations - maybe too unreliable?

Re: TeraWave Satellite Communications Network

#14

Post by direwolf20 »

grvbck wrote: post #11

From a technical standpoint: amazing achievement, and the tech nerd in me is in awe. But it feels like a lot of people don't understand (or care?) how much these companies are polluting the space. Before the "new wave", in 2010-2015 or so, Earth had around 1500 active satellites in orbit, and another 2,000-2,500 defunct ones. Starlink now has almost 9,500 satellites in orbit, has approvals for 12,000 and long-term pl…

How many causes Kessler syndrome?

Re: TeraWave Satellite Communications Network

#15

Post by stefan_ »

grvbck wrote: post #11

From a technical standpoint: amazing achievement, and the tech nerd in me is in awe. But it feels like a lot of people don't understand (or care?) how much these companies are polluting the space. Before the "new wave", in 2010-2015 or so, Earth had around 1500 active satellites in orbit, and another 2,000-2,500 defunct ones. Starlink now has almost 9,500 satellites in orbit, has approvals for 12,000 and long-term pl…

Is it a lot? It's a bit like you are telling me there are gonna be 250000 cars on a planet larger than Earth.

Re: TeraWave Satellite Communications Network

#17

Post by [deleted] »

perihelions wrote: post #7
everfrustrated wrote: post #4

Might be better to replace url with the full press release which has actual information https://www.blueorigin.com/news/blue-origin-introduces-teraw... >The TeraWave architecture consists of 5,408 optically interconnected satellites in low Earth orbit (LEO) and medium Earth orbit (MEO).

An even better source, imho: https://arstechnica.com/space/2026/01/blue-origin-we-want-to... ( "Another Jeff Bezos company has announced plans to develop a megaconstellation" )

[deleted]

Re: TeraWave Satellite Communications Network

#18

Post by gogasca »

grvbck wrote: post #11

From a technical standpoint: amazing achievement, and the tech nerd in me is in awe. But it feels like a lot of people don't understand (or care?) how much these companies are polluting the space. Before the "new wave", in 2010-2015 or so, Earth had around 1500 active satellites in orbit, and another 2,000-2,500 defunct ones. Starlink now has almost 9,500 satellites in orbit, has approvals for 12,000 and long-term pl…

[dead]

Re: TeraWave Satellite Communications Network

#19

Post by quaintdev »

grvbck wrote: post #11

From a technical standpoint: amazing achievement, and the tech nerd in me is in awe. But it feels like a lot of people don't understand (or care?) how much these companies are polluting the space. Before the "new wave", in 2010-2015 or so, Earth had around 1500 active satellites in orbit, and another 2,000-2,500 defunct ones. Starlink now has almost 9,500 satellites in orbit, has approvals for 12,000 and long-term pl…

I wonder if there's a limit to space junk beyond which leaving the Earth in a space shuttle becomes impossible.

Re: TeraWave Satellite Communications Network

#20

Post by gordonhart »

Well, this shoots down the argument that Blue Origin is just Amazon's space wing. Strange to see them launching a direct Amazon Leo competitor but now that they have reusable boosters (on paper) it does make more sense for them to control the lion's share of their launch manifest with their own megaconstellation.
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