Google Pondering $1 Billion Investment In SpaceX's Satellite Internet

mpicpp writes with a report that Google is close to finalizing an investment in SpaceX to fund the rocket company's vision for satellite-based, low-cost internet access. According to The Information (paywalled), Google is one of many investors for this round of fundraising. The Wall Street Journal (also paywalled) reports Google's investment at $1 billion. They add, "It is likely to take years to establish designs and potentially set up a specialized satellite-making facility. But SpaceX already has some important building blocks. Industry officials said the company builds its own navigation and flight-control systems for spacecraft, which could provide some elements for satellites. There also are synergies between parts SpaceX makes today for solar arrays on spacecraft and such devices intended for satellites."

Comments

Are you pondering what I'm pondering, Google?

[jpellino]

Sure - but where are we going to get a hyperloop that big and 3,000 WRT54Gs at THIS hour?

Re:Business model?

[gstoddart]

As a silly example back around the late 1800s private enterprise didn't see enough value to build a brewery in Brisbane, Australia.

LOL, no disrespect ... but was there really a point at which someone thought it was too risky to build a brewery in ... Australia?

You're having us on, right? :-P