Had a factory explode just next to my city once. With everyone panicking, all connectivity (including calls and texts) was down in less than one hour. It was a while ago, but our infrastructure is more fragile than we imagine.

There is a public demo instance. The link and test credentials are on the GitHub page.

Tennessee whisky is not a marketing argument in Europe, you’re safe there.

The tall cans have more surface area. It does mean slightly more materials (but not that much because the can thickness is not uniform), but also more visibility in vending machines and stores. It’s a purely marketing decision.

They have very, very different business models. Constellation size is meaningless on its own, you have to account for the satellites capabilities, orbits, and the number and needs of your customers.

This is true at 500km altitude, but not so at higher LEO altitudes.

It’s because your issues are everyone’s issues.

Arianespace is only building and operating launchers. Airbus is also the biggest satellite manufacturer in Europe. They’re in crisis right now, same as their direct European competitor Thales Alenia Space, due to Starlink destroying the traditional space Telecom market, of which they were leaders.