Specification

Objective:

• Deploy 9 satellites that are visible from Earth and maintain their relative positions over time.

Satellite Configuration:

• Utilize satellites similar to (or same as) the Starlink system.

• Altitude: 550 km (550,000 meters) above Earth.

• Minimum distance between satellites: 2,200 meters.

Modifications:

• Remove internet equipment from the satellites.

• Retain necessary connectivity equipment.

• Add reflective unfolding surfaces to enhance visibility from Earth.

• The satellites should maintain a stable formation at the specified altitude and distance.

Cost

1. Research and Development (R&D)

Objective: Design and integrate reflective surfaces to enhance visibility from Earth, remove internet equipment, modify launch process.

• Reflective Surface Design:
  • Developing a reflective surface that unfolds or is integrated into the satellite design.
  • Integrating new design into existing deployment procedure
  • Estimated Cost: $5 million - $10 million.

• Testing and Prototyping:
  • Creating prototypes and conducting ground-based and space-based tests to ensure functionality and durability.
  • Estimated Cost: $2 million - $5 million.

Total R&D Cost: $7 million - $15 million.

2. Manufacturing

Objective: Build 10 satellites similar to the Starlink satellites with modifications for added reflectivity.

• Base Cost of Starlink Satellites:
  • The cost per Starlink V2 mini satellite is estimated to be around $800,000

• Modifications:
  • Removal of internet equipment.
  • Addition of reflective surfaces.

• Estimated additional cost per satellite.
  • Assuming adding and removal costs will cancel out.

Total Manufacturing Cost: $800,000 * 9 = $7.2 million.

3. Launch Costs

Objective: Launch 9 satellites into a 550 km orbit.

• Launch Service:
  • SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket is commonly used for launching Starlink satellites.
  • Estimated cost per Falcon 9 launch: $67 million (link)
  • A single Falcon 9 can deploy up to 22 Starlink satellites (link)

• Cost
  • Cost for 9 satellites: 67 / 22 * 9 = $27,4 million
  • Inconvenience factor (how much to we bother the traditional launch): 1.2

Total Launch Cost: $27,4 * 1.2 = 33 million.

4. Summary of Estimated Costs

• Research and Development: $7 million - $15 million.

• Manufacturing: $7.2 million.

• Launch: $33 million (link)

Total Estimated Cost: $47.2 million - $55.2 million.

Distance and scale

Starlink train

Boeing 737-800 is 40m long and visible at 10,000m

Starlink orbit is 550,000m.

Distance between satelites 2200m (As if there are 16 satellites)

Total length - 34km, 21 miles

Length to distance/1000 = 61,8

Moon

3475 km - 384,400 km

Length to distance/1000 = 9

SOS to Moon = 6,86 (SOS is 7 times bigger on the night sky)

Single satellite dimensions and weight

v1

Size and Weight: Each Starlink satellite measures approximately 2.8 meters (9.2 feet) in length and 1.4 meters (4.6 feet) in width, with a thickness of about 0.2 meters (0.7 feet). The weight of each satellite is roughly 260 kilograms (573 pounds). From here

v2-mini

• Width: Approximately 4.1 meters (13.5 feet) when deployed.

• Length: Each satellite is about 7 meters (23 feet) long.

• Mass: The V2 Mini satellites weigh around 800 kg (approximately 1,764 lbs) each

Source + Perplexity