Comment Re:Japan has unique opportunity (Score 1) 274
To moderate or to post... such a hard choice.
Japan would be able to build a network of LEO (low earth orbit) satellites that could provide very quick service, if they were willing to build and put several of them into orbit.
Here's why.
An object in a polar LEO (as the original poster suggested) passes over the same point on earth at the same point every day. The Japanese would need several satellites to provide continuous coverage to the nation and surrounding islands.
How many satellites would Japan need? about 80. Iridium, Motorola's Satellite Phone network, had about 80 satellites in polar LEO. These satellites ensured that Japan (and the rest of the earth), had full coverage all of the time.
Iridium was built for ~$150 million USD. It costs about that much to buy a GEO satellite from Lockheed Martin or Boeing.
It would be really cool if Japan would build an Iridium-like constellation. It isn't likely due to the ease of purchasing a GEO satellite and the unproven nature of the iridium-style cluster.
Japan would be able to build a network of LEO (low earth orbit) satellites that could provide very quick service, if they were willing to build and put several of them into orbit.
Here's why.
An object in a polar LEO (as the original poster suggested) passes over the same point on earth at the same point every day. The Japanese would need several satellites to provide continuous coverage to the nation and surrounding islands.
How many satellites would Japan need? about 80. Iridium, Motorola's Satellite Phone network, had about 80 satellites in polar LEO. These satellites ensured that Japan (and the rest of the earth), had full coverage all of the time.
Iridium was built for ~$150 million USD. It costs about that much to buy a GEO satellite from Lockheed Martin or Boeing.
It would be really cool if Japan would build an Iridium-like constellation. It isn't likely due to the ease of purchasing a GEO satellite and the unproven nature of the iridium-style cluster.
