• @[email protected]
        link
        fedilink
        English
        51 year ago

        Black paint was causing heat problems.

        Sounds like it’s more about orientation:

        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.

        • marsokod
          link
          English
          11 year ago

          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.

    • @[email protected]
      link
      fedilink
      English
      31 year ago

      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.