Whitepaper is here: https://www.lumenorbit.com/wp

@JeremiahEngland their economic analysis is gibberish, to say the least. I'm kind of surprised that YC is funding them?

I mean, just ask yourself if it passes the smell test. They are claiming that they could build and launch a 40MW cluster into space for around $8 million. I don't believe that for a second. They also are implying that the energy cost in space is a factor of 70x less than terrestrial. That defies logic!

Their "approximately equivalent cost" analyses for terrestrial vs space are such gibberish. First of all, you have no maintenance ability in space, so you have to really ramp up every failure factor to make sure that a single part doesn't break, crippling the entire system. (yes even with their modularity)

Their $30/kg launch costs are... optimistic to say the least.

I think they're underestimating the challenges (or even possibility) of the automated assembly of their system in space, and probably have to budget a lot more weight for the infrastructure required for that assembly.

Also, say what you will about permitting on land for solar (difficult indeed), but surely you could get permits to do this in the Sahara or Arabian deserts for much easier than the permitting process to launch and construct large arrays like these in orbit (and manage orbit, observation, etc while in space)!

All in all, a cool idea that will absolute not get off the ground (pun intended).

Hahahahaa

Happy to register my prediction here!

@benshindel Why'd you laugh?

@JeremiahEngland I laughed because I was amused that my tweet inspired a market! (See description)

@benshindel Oh, sorry. I didn't look at your username!