TeraWave Satellite Communications Network

Optical links, weather, and end‑user connectivity

• Thread starts with questions about how optical ground links work through clouds and whether “cloud‑clearing” lasers are realistic or safe.
• NASA material is cited: solution is many ground stations and rerouting to clear sites, plus delay‑tolerant networking.
• Commenters note this works for backbone, but is less applicable to single end‑user terminals in cloudy regions.
• Some discuss adaptive optics and past “Star Wars” research for correcting beam distortion; there’s skepticism about practicality and cost for commercial access.

Network architecture & performance claims

• The press release is linked: ~5,400 satellites in both LEO and MEO with optical inter‑satellite links.
• Confusion over bandwidth numbers: interpretation that 6 Tbps refers to optical backhaul (satellite–satellite and possibly satellite–gateway), while ~144 Gbps RF is for user and gateway links.
• One reading: customers can optionally buy direct high‑capacity MEO optical backhaul; optical isn’t clearly promised for everyday consumer ground links.
• Some propose hybrid schemes (optical downlink, RF uplink, FEC/ARQ) to cope with intermittent losses.

Market positioning, cost, and latency

• Several comments say this is not a Starlink‑style consumer product but aimed at governments, large enterprises, and telcos.
• It’s viewed as technically impressive but likely expensive; latency will depend on chosen orbit heights, which remain unclear.
• There’s speculation that spectrum and orbital filings may be as strategically important as the actual service.

Space pollution, astronomy, and visibility

• Strong concern about megaconstellations “polluting” space and the sky, with rough counts of current and planned satellites (tens to hundreds of thousands across operators).
• Some fear this could be the last generation to see a pristine night sky; others counter that LEO sats are mostly visible only near dusk/dawn and reflect limited light.
• Debate over how much this actually interferes with stargazing vs. professional astronomy.

Collision risk and Kessler syndrome

• Repeated questions about cascading collision risks in LEO.
• One side argues LEO is sparse, debris deorbits in a few years, and densities comparable to air traffic would require millions of satellites; catastrophic Kessler scenarios are called unlikely at these altitudes.
• The other side points out orbital speeds, debris evolution, limited propellant for avoidance maneuvers, and growing conjunction counts as real operational concerns, especially as more independent constellations launch.

Blue Origin strategy & execution skepticism

• Some see this as Blue Origin trying to secure its own launch demand and differentiate from Amazon’s other constellation, not a direct duplicate of consumer broadband.
• Others are skeptical: Blue Origin hasn’t deployed its first constellation yet and has limited launch heritage, while competitors are many years ahead in operations and cost learning.