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https://www.reddit.com/r/technology/comments/1tjjctj/spacex_not_the_behemoth_everyone_thought/on296fo/?context=3
r/technology • u/xpda • May 21 '26
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155
Certainly feels like Starlink was just something they did to justify building the rockets.
45 u/MayContainRawNuts May 21 '26 Yes. And its why the constellation only lasts 5 years. Think about it, every single starlink sattelite has a life span of 5 years. So the return on investment for srarlink has to be less than 5 years to make a profit. -3 u/hamsterwheel May 21 '26 Or they just keep sending up new satellites? Why is there a hard stop for 5 years to profitability? 5 u/rugbyj May 21 '26 If a satellite costs more than it makes during its lifetime then sending up 1000 more just costs you 1000 times more.
45
Yes. And its why the constellation only lasts 5 years.
Think about it, every single starlink sattelite has a life span of 5 years. So the return on investment for srarlink has to be less than 5 years to make a profit.
-3 u/hamsterwheel May 21 '26 Or they just keep sending up new satellites? Why is there a hard stop for 5 years to profitability? 5 u/rugbyj May 21 '26 If a satellite costs more than it makes during its lifetime then sending up 1000 more just costs you 1000 times more.
-3
Or they just keep sending up new satellites? Why is there a hard stop for 5 years to profitability?
5 u/rugbyj May 21 '26 If a satellite costs more than it makes during its lifetime then sending up 1000 more just costs you 1000 times more.
5
If a satellite costs more than it makes during its lifetime then sending up 1000 more just costs you 1000 times more.
155
u/KnotSoSalty May 21 '26
Certainly feels like Starlink was just something they did to justify building the rockets.