December 16
Tom Mueller’s Insight on Starlink Costs

Tom Mueller, the renowned propulsion expert and SpaceX’s first employee, recently shared on X that 200 of the original Starlink satellites could be built for $35 million, implying a per-unit cost of approximately $175,000. This figure undercuts the $250,000 per satellite cost estimate we used in our Big Falcon Model (BFM) so far. 

The new figure implies Starlink V1s cost ~ $700/kg. If we assume modest improvement in this over the years, the ~2T V3 Starlinks should cost ~$1M a piece.

December 26
Ringwatchers Key Takeaways: Starship’s Upgraded Payload Deployment System (Ship 33)

The Ringwatchers, a group dedicated to tracking and documenting the engineering evolution of SpaceX’s Starship program at Starbase, Texas, published a detailed analysis of Ship 33’s updated payload deployment system. Their article dives into the “logistical and engineering madness” behind SpaceX’s continuous refinements, offering insights into the challenges and innovations that pave the way for Starship’s operational readiness.

Optimized Payload Bay for Starlink V3 Satellites

• SpaceX has redesigned the payload bay, reducing unused space and tailoring it for Starlink V3 satellites. Despite being physically smaller, it is more efficient and fully utilizes the available space, including the previously unused lower nosecone.

Reinforced Structure and Accessibility

• Structural enhancements include 120 internal stringers for better axial load resistance and reinforced lifting sockets to improve durability and payload handling.

Redesigned PEZ Dispenser

• The PEZ dispenser (mechanism used to deploy satellites in orbit) has been revamped to increase capacity to 54 Starlink V3 satellites (14 more than before) by utilizing vertical space and extending into the nosecone volume.

  

  The upgraded ‘PEZ’ dispenser design, photo courtesy of Starship Gazer

Improved Sliding Payload Door

• The payload door now features a rounded design to minimize stress points, reinforced panels, and electric actuation systems replacing hydraulic components for reliability and simplicity.

Transition to Electric Actuation

• Hydraulic systems in the dispenser and door have been replaced with electric actuators, aligning with SpaceX’s push for simpler, more robust designs.

Simplified Retention and Deployment Systems

• The retention system now uses electric winches instead of a complex pulley system, reducing failure points and improving safety during satellite deployment.

Lightweight Dispenser Material

• The dispenser is likely made of aluminum instead of stainless steel, balancing structural strength with reduced mass.

Future-Ready Design

• The upgrades are aimed at improving efficiency for SpaceX-specific payloads (Starlink V3s), with plans to extend payload capacity and address customer payloads in future iterations

December 31
Starlink 2024 Progress Report: Breaking Barriers and Building the Future

The Starlink 2024 Progress Report (scroll down on link to download) is an exceptionally detailed update on the network’s explosive growth, groundbreaking technology, and ambitious plans for the future. For the first time in years, SpaceX has divulged key Starlink satellite technical specifications, allowing us to refine our modelling. The highlights from the report are below:

🚀 Unstoppable Growth and Milestones

• Global Domination: Starlink now serves 4.6 million customers across 118 countries, with a staggering 2.8 billion people under its potential coverage.

• Record-Setting Launches: Over 7,000 active satellites deployed, fueled by 134 Falcon launches in 2024.

• Scaling to the Next Level: A shiny new 700,000 sq. ft. facility in Texas churned out 3.9 million kits this year, with a production capacity of 5.5 million annually starting in 2025.

🛰️ Technological Advancements

• V2 Mini Satellites: Revealed to have quadrupled bandwidth capacity (96 Gbps), advanced laser inter-satellite links, and improved propulsion systems.

• Direct-to-Cell Connectivity: 350 satellites enable seamless LTE connectivity in areas without cell towers, with plans to double this number by mid-2025.

• New Products: Introduction of portable Starlink Mini and upgraded Standard kits, designed for easier installation and better performance.

🌍 Global Impact

• Powering Change: Transforming rural education and healthcare with high-speed internet for schools and telemedicine centers.

• Disaster Relief: First on the scene during crises—be it hurricanes or earthquakes—restoring connectivity when it’s needed most.

• Economic Development: Enabling growth for small businesses, modernizing agriculture, and boosting tourism with high-speed internet in underserved areas.

✈️🌊🚉 Sector Spotlight

• Aviation: 450 planes connected and contracts for 2,000+ more—the skies just got a whole lot smarter.

• Maritime: With 75,000 vessels connected, Starlink is riding the waves, serving 10 million cruise passengers annually.

• Rail: High-speed internet now on passenger trains, from the U.S. heartland to the Scottish Highlands.

🌌 Safety and Sustainability

• Collision Avoidance: Autonomous satellite maneuvers keep orbits safe, adhering to a collision probability threshold 1,000x stricter than the norm.

• Astronomy Ally: Efforts to minimize interference with ground-based and radio astronomy through satellite design and real-time coordination.

🔮 The Road Ahead

• Enter Starship: V3 satellites launching via Starship will unleash 60 Tbps per launch, upping the game by 20x over Falcon 9. This is despite Starship only having 4x the payload capacity of Falcon 9, implying a 5x improvement in bandwidth/kg launched, and illustrating the efficiency gains of scaling up space assets.

• Next-Gen Satellites: V3s promise 1 Tbps downlink and 160 Gbps uplink, redefining what’s possible for satellite internet. This is 5x the downlink we had estimated for the V3 satellites, which has profound implications for future constellation capacity.

• Market Penetration: Plans to expand Direct-to-Cell and IoT connectivity, eliminating dead zones and driving adoption in untapped markets.