Satellite CTOs dream of five-year-duration spacecraft(cost-cuts included)

摘要

Ideally, broadband satellites would last no more than five years in orbit before being replaced by newer technology to keep up with the fast-changing data-distribution market. At least that's the view of the chief technology officers at two top-tier satellite fleet operators, Eutelsat and Hispasat. But there's a catch: A satellite designed for five years would need to cost half as much, and preferably one-third, the cost of today's satellites, which are designed to last 15 years in orbit.