Probably a good idea since Elon Musk said earlier this year he wants 4,200 satellites in orbit within 18 months. Pic: Getty Images
ASX Tech Stocks: SpaceX says Starlink reflection upgrades would make satellites practically invisible
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- Starlink 2.0 satellites are getting a reflection upgrade and could soon be invisible to the naked eye
- Semiconductor player Revasum’s 1H FY22 revenue was US$7.4 million or +60% year on year
- Logistic platform provider Yojee nabs 2-year subscription deal with Hawk Logistics
SpaceX has announced new upgrades to its Starlink 2.0 satellites which it claims will make them “invisible to the naked eye when at their standard operational altitude.”
It basically addresses the way the satellites reflect sunlight as they orbit the Earth, using a mirror film to scatter most of the reflected sunlight away.
SpaceX says the film will reduce the reflection brightness by over 10 times compared to a version it’s using on its current-gen satellites.
It will also a low reflectivity black paint over components that can’t be covered by its mirror film, and will point its Starlink 2.0 solar arrays away from the Sun during specific times of the day so they reflect less light towards Earth.
“This off-pointing manoeuvre results in a 25 percent reduction in available power for the satellites,” the company said.
“Despite this cost, SpaceX has specifically designed the second-generation satellites to be able to accommodate this significant power reduction.”
The move comes after collaborative efforts by the global astronomical community to fight the impact of satellite mega-constellations on their work, and even NASA has warned that Starlink satellites could impede its ability to detect a potentially hazardous asteroid headed towards Earth.
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Semiconductor equipment supplier Revasum has released its June quarterly and says its total unaudited 1H FY22 revenue was US$7.4 million up around 60% year on year.
The company says this has been driven by increased demand for both silicon and silicon carbide wafer processing equipment.
Power silicon carbide devices are the fastest growing semiconductor sector, fuelled by high-growth, global end-use applications such as electric vehicles, solar and 5G.
Automotive applications – including electric vehicle inverters, on-board charging and fast-charging stations – provide significant long-term demand for SiC devices and Revasum says it’s expected to represent almost 80% of the global SiC device market by 2027.
“Within the broader semiconductor market, wafer fabrication equipment sales are forecast to grow 22.8% in 2022 to reach a record high of US$108 billion,” the company said.
“Significant CAPEX investment from key players in the SiC market is expected to further support demand for Revasum’s SiC grinding and polishing technology.”
The company is having some supply chain hiccups though, which have have delayed the shipping of several pieces of equipment during the quarter, which are now expected to ship in 2H FY22.
The logistics platform provider has nabbed a two-year subscription with Hawk Logistics, an Australian enterprise grade logistics operator, to provide visibility and execution control for large volumes of daily freight across three hubs.
Yojee says sales generated from the variable fee structure subscription will initially not be material to existing sales, but that could change in future.
“Our technology fits well with their aggressive growth plans as presented to us,” MD Ed Clarke said.
“Our developing relationship with Hawk Logistics also highlights an important aspect of our own pathways to attaining growth. With many customers coming through network referrals and introductions, we gain confidence in our product and its application and value in this large global industry.”
