One of the big challenges for Starlink is that the satellites themselves often change. Starlink says that they’ve never had a launch in which the satellites going into the constellation hadn’t changed from the last launch. In most environments, this would be a major problem (read: recipe for disaster.) Starlink has solved this problem by putting software developers directly into the manufacturing cycle.

Instead of new hardware being “thrown over the wall” to developers, the software developers are integrated into the manufacturing process to the extent of being on the actual manufacturing shop floor. To make sure that hardware and software stay in sync throughout the process, software is sometimes tested on satellites coming off the production line and on their way to orbit.

Once the satellite software is ready to fly, it’s packaged for transmission to the satellites. Releases are first deployed to a few satellites in orbit and tested in place. If there are failures, the software can be rolled back. If it’s judged satisfactory, the software is deployed in an exponential rollout to the remaining satellites.