Solutions and Enabling Technologies
Which technologies close the gaps, and when do they arrive?
Chapter summary
Five technology families matter: reusable launch, in-space manufacturing and assembly, autonomous operations, optical and quantum-secured links, and new materials for thermal control. The study maps each to a maturity path rather than assuming they arrive together.
Key takeaways
- 1
Reusable launch cuts costs 70–95% against expendable rockets; Starship projects below $500/kg.
- 2
Optical inter-satellite links run at 1–10 Gbps today, with 100+ Gbps systems in development; ESA's EDRS already relays 1.8 Gbps.
- 3
Critical subsystems are designed N+1 or N+2 so the constellation keeps running through failures.
Key figures in this chapter
- 70–95%
- Launch cost cut from reusability
- 24–48 h
- Falcon 9 fastest turnaround
- 1–10 Gbps
- Optical links today
- 100+ Gbps
- Optical links in development
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