SpaceX has responded to the concerns of astronomers by developing an improved reflective layer for their Gen 2 satellites which directs more of the sunlight away from observers on the ground.
Looks like it is more about the shade. I also wonder if they are able to have a small yaw axis law around the time it is a problem to reduce the reflection on the solar panel, which is hard to shade. That's a reduced power budget but it may be worth it, the solar panels and batteries they are using are quite cheap.
Mirror film. The antenna have a highly reflective film coating that reflects all light from the sun in a specific direction in space, away from Earth.
The parts of the satellite that aren't flat enough for the mirror film do use the dark paint.
6 Comments
JohnDClay@sh.itjust.works · 5 pts · 3y
That's great to hear! Is this with the shades and paint, or something else?
darknavi@vlemmy.net · 3 pts · 3y
Pretty sure it's in-house developed black paint.
atzanteol@sh.itjust.works · 5 pts · 3y
Black paint was causing heat problems.
Sounds like it's more about orientation:
marsokod@lemmy.world · 1 pts · 3y
Looks like it is more about the shade. I also wonder if they are able to have a small yaw axis law around the time it is a problem to reduce the reflection on the solar panel, which is hard to shade. That's a reduced power budget but it may be worth it, the solar panels and batteries they are using are quite cheap.
JohnDClay@sh.itjust.works · 1 pts · 3y
Cool!
15Redstones@feddit.de · 3 pts · 3y
Mirror film. The antenna have a highly reflective film coating that reflects all light from the sun in a specific direction in space, away from Earth. The parts of the satellite that aren't flat enough for the mirror film do use the dark paint.