Starlink has achieved breakeven cash flow • Hacker News Board

Re: Starlink has achieved breakeven cash flow

#61

Post by TaylorAlexander » Thu, Nov 02, 2023, 4:02 PM UTC

next_xibalba wrote: post #14

drannex wrote: post #6

I don't trust a single thing he says at this point without evidence, I just can't possibly see it as breakeven without it, which we likely won't receive as they are a private corp.

Why does it matter to you? I am fascinated by people who have such strong opinions about Musk, particularly on the negative side. The vast majority have never met him and, if they were honest, have probably been positively impacted by him (or not at all). Personally, I hope it’s true. Starlink is good for the world.

Having met Musk is irrelevant when deciding whether to trust the public statements of someone who has a long and well documented history of lying in public statements. In particular he has repeatedly lied about business related details, most notably claims of self driving readiness.

It doesn’t require strong opinions about Musk to understand the value in taking what he says with skepticism.

Re: Starlink has achieved breakeven cash flow

#62

Post by AaronM » Thu, Nov 02, 2023, 4:02 PM UTC

nimbius wrote: post #50

next_xibalba wrote: post #14

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Why does it matter to you? I am fascinated by people who have such strong opinions about Musk, particularly on the negative side. The vast majority have never met him and, if they were honest, have probably been positively impacted by him (or not at all). Personally, I hope it’s true. Starlink is good for the world.

[flagged]

I'm not a fan of musk, but your last statement about avoiding a charge, who would charge him?

The US isn't at war with russia. Ukraine is the only country able to raise those claims, and they havent afaik.

Re: Starlink has achieved breakeven cash flow

#63

Post by wg0 » Thu, Nov 02, 2023, 4:02 PM UTC

next_xibalba wrote: post #14

drannex wrote: post #6

I don't trust a single thing he says at this point without evidence, I just can't possibly see it as breakeven without it, which we likely won't receive as they are a private corp.

Why does it matter to you? I am fascinated by people who have such strong opinions about Musk, particularly on the negative side. The vast majority have never met him and, if they were honest, have probably been positively impacted by him (or not at all). Personally, I hope it’s true. Starlink is good for the world.

OP has only expressed lack of confidence in the statements Elon makes. Objectively speaking, there are plenty of examples where it has been the case that let's say, there were "alternate facts" involved.

And no, it is not about predictions of this being done by that year alone.

Re: Starlink has achieved breakeven cash flow

#64

Post by LargeTomato » Thu, Nov 02, 2023, 4:03 PM UTC

I read an analysis by Morgan Stanley that it costs $40B to launch the entire constellation. That doesn't include the cost of the satellite, just the launches.

According to SpaceX their satellites last 5 years. That means Starlink must make, at minimum, $8B/year to maintain the constellation.

`$8B/yr / ($200/mo * 12 mo) = 3.33 Million users`

3.3 million users paying $200/mo in order to break even. The starshield contract probably covers a good amount, too.

Re: Starlink has achieved breakeven cash flow

#65

Post by juujian » Thu, Nov 02, 2023, 4:03 PM UTC

dougmwne wrote: post #12

Who knows what this even means. Breakeven including launch costs? Breakeven on only satellite operation costs? Breakeven when you exclude all satellite and ground infrastructure costs? Breakeven when you exclude all costs except Elon’s ego stroking expenses?

It definitely does not include the cost associated with polluting our atmosphere

Re: Starlink has achieved breakeven cash flow

#66

Post by [deleted] » Thu, Nov 02, 2023, 4:03 PM UTC

te_chris wrote: post #26

goalieca wrote: post #3

I can’t understate how revolutionary this technology is for those outside of dense urban center. It has even been well utilized by Ukraine in the war and is jamming resistant.

Unless the jamming is being performed by an anxious and needy tech mogul after a phone call with a dictator.

[deleted]

Re: Starlink has achieved breakeven cash flow

#67

Post by s1gnp0st » Thu, Nov 02, 2023, 4:03 PM UTC

webkike wrote: post #32

next_xibalba wrote: post #14

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Why does it matter to you? I am fascinated by people who have such strong opinions about Musk, particularly on the negative side. The vast majority have never met him and, if they were honest, have probably been positively impacted by him (or not at all). Personally, I hope it’s true. Starlink is good for the world.

I haven’t met him, but he has bought out my favorite social media website solely so he can insert his insipid opinions and comments, so I think the negative reactions are warranted. Why do people always talk about needing to meet a guy to have an opinion on them? I haven’t met Dick Cheney either

[flagged]

Re: Starlink has achieved breakeven cash flow

#68

Post by fredgrott » Thu, Nov 02, 2023, 4:03 PM UTC

next_xibalba wrote: post #14

drannex wrote: post #6

I don't trust a single thing he says at this point without evidence, I just can't possibly see it as breakeven without it, which we likely won't receive as they are a private corp.

Why does it matter to you? I am fascinated by people who have such strong opinions about Musk, particularly on the negative side. The vast majority have never met him and, if they were honest, have probably been positively impacted by him (or not at all). Personally, I hope it’s true. Starlink is good for the world.

honestly it is from Elon's own history....

1. His only software contribution at PayPal was torn out and discarded 2. After his software at paypal was rejected he was fired by the board at paypal.

It is not that he does not have business skills to market. It is that he presents himself as someone that does quality engineering..which in fact is somewhat false.

Re: Starlink has achieved breakeven cash flow

#69

Post by beepbooptheory » Thu, Nov 02, 2023, 4:03 PM UTC

Waterluvian wrote: post #22

next_xibalba wrote: post #14

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Why does it matter to you? I am fascinated by people who have such strong opinions about Musk, particularly on the negative side. The vast majority have never met him and, if they were honest, have probably been positively impacted by him (or not at all). Personally, I hope it’s true. Starlink is good for the world.

I think Starlink has colossal potential to do tremendous good in the world. That's exactly why I care so much about how much control and impact a character like Musk has. Would suck if my ISP suddenly just started sending me dank memes and poop emojis one day because the CEO got broken up with.

The fact that, at this point, this is not a totally ridiculous thing to be concerned about is very surreal but also pretty funny honestly.

Re: Starlink has achieved breakeven cash flow

#70

Post by LargeTomato » Thu, Nov 02, 2023, 4:04 PM UTC

rburhum wrote: post #28

drannex wrote: post #6

I don't trust a single thing he says at this point without evidence, I just can't possibly see it as breakeven without it, which we likely won't receive as they are a private corp.

[flagged]

That's interesting to me that you think criticism of Starlink means I'm wrapped up in the culture war. I suspect that you may be wrapped up in the culture war.