I used to work in aerospace, specifically satellite data processing. A couple thoughts:<p>- Their core team does not have anyone with space experience. Success and knowledge from other sectors (looks like they all come from the security sector) does not translate. Space is a whole different can of worms. There are totally different and more constraining hardware requirements, regulations, cost levels to name a few.<p>They have some advisory board guys with the right experience, but they will need to be heavily involved to be useful to a team of guys coming from a security background (probably more than just as advisers).<p>- The costs associated with operating a satellite network are so stratospheric (badum-bum ding) that their claim about "democratizing access to data" is dubious. There is a very good reason satellite data is so damn expensive right now: it is so damn expensive to get in the first place.<p>They could lower some costs here and there maybe, but it would still be in the wrong order of magnitude. They would need to sell the data to a LOT of customers to be a profitable business, if they want to keep the cost of data low (this is what I assume they mean by "democratizing access). They have provided hints of some potential applications, but have they demonstrated there is sufficient existing demand for this?<p>Probably not. So they are essentially trying to create a new market while footing astronomical up front costs themselves. That is not an attractive risk proposition.<p>I hope it works because it could be very cool (space! data!). But, I remain very skeptical.
This is a pretty cool idea but I didn't see anywhere that it would be open-source. On the contrary I expect this to be super expensive, at least in the beginning. As a side note, open sourcing all of the software would be useful but not enough to get your own satellites up.
I know there are regulations for flying through airspace which require me to get permission depending on the type vehicle/altitude obtained. Are there similar regulations for space? Do I have to go somewhere to get permission to orbit in a certain plane or is it everybody for themselves?
It's cool that they believe community can help getting better.
<a href="https://github.com/satellogic/canopus/blob/master/src/kernel/FreeRTOS/7.4.0/Source/tasks.c" rel="nofollow">https://github.com/satellogic/canopus/blob/master/src/kernel...</a>
Does anyone have an idea of how fragile these 100lb satellites are? What is the potential negative environmentally of having thousands more of these satellites orbiting the earth?