from Hacker News

For collecting weather data, tiny satellites measure up to expensive cousins

by kevitivity on 10/2/18, 4:38 AM with 18 comments

• by interknot on 10/3/18, 5:54 PM

  As a software developer, the thing I love about the cubesat concept is the presumably reduced iteration time. The idea of waiting for years only to find out something went wrong once the satellite is in orbit seems absurd (sorry, GOES-17).

  That said, isn't the whole concept of cubesats tied to the idea that they're not in a geostationary orbit? There's something to be said for the simplicity of "point at this spot in your section of sky and receive data".

  I suppose now is a good time for me to look into how to get data from a cubesat fleet.

• by btilly on 10/3/18, 4:23 PM

  My big concern is that we still don't have a solution for https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kessler_syndrome. Lots and lots of small satellites brings us closer to that potential catastrophe.

  My big hope is that SpaceX's BFR can potentially launch and maneuver cheaply enough to take dead satellites out of orbit in a cost effective manner. Hopefully they manage to launch, and someone is willing to pay to make it happen...

• by woliveirajr on 10/3/18, 3:29 PM

  > You can build them faster, which means you can put new technology on quicker instead of waiting 10 years for new technology infusion on a government program

  I imagine that having one cube launch every year with top equipament (or the best that the budget allows and tha fits the cube) can have better results than one big giant with older technology.

  Of course, probably some tech cannot fit a small satellite, but I bet that the vast majority can. And if it can't now, it can in the following 3-5 years, before the big one is released.