Comment by ISL | Hacker News Reader

Comment by ISL | Hacker News Reader

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I don't think SpaceX can lift LSST-class instruments to orbit (and transport the students/maintenance staff to visit/upgrade monthly), move radio telescopes like VLA/SKA/GreenBank to orbit, transport kids to dark-sky locations for the cost of a school-bus ride, make it possible to watch unfettered nebulae through a pair of 10x50s, or make it possible to photograph the Milky Way rising over a national park without streaks in the sky.

I don't have a solution to the constellation problem -- I just want to point out that, while launching JWST-class instruments would help to mitigate the impact for some professional astronomers, such a strategy cannot the broad impact of artificial stars in the sky.

Constellations can do undeniable good for the ground, but I think it is really a choice between dark skies and global satellite internet.

SpaceX's next-gen rocket, Starship, will have a 9 meter fairing and aims to be able to launch 100 tons into orbit for ~$10-100/kg. They also plan to support 3 launches per day. LSST has a primary mirror that's 8.4 meters wide, so something like it could potentially fit. Enormous radio telescopes can be constructed from a large array of smaller satellites via radio interferometry.

> Constellations can do undeniable good for the ground, but I think it is really a choice between dark skies and global satellite internet.

It's a good summary of the situation, yes.

> I don't think SpaceX can lift LSST-class instruments to orbit...

Literally - not soon, but the launch industry is at a point of fast evolution, so it might make sense to use it and device different kinds of astronomy tools - not multibillion gems, one-of-a-kinds, practically irreplaceable in case of launch failure, but numerous, with fast turnaround, sensors enjoying short design loops from conception to using and benefiting from decreasing prices of kilogram on orbit.

Frankly, some LSST-class instruments can only be based in space, and SpaceX can well be a good helper in getting them there.

> or make it possible to photograph the Milky Way rising over a national park without streaks in the sky.

With today's photographic equipment, yes. With naked eyes, unfortunately, yes. But there could be a non-insignificant replacement.

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