• poVoq@slrpnk.net
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    1 year ago

    If the insurance company is really on the hook for 420 million, there are probably some interesting discussion going on right now about a cheaper robotic repair mission or so.

    • zhunk@beehaw.org
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      1 year ago

      A crewed mission won’t happen because of cost and physics reasons, but it would be cool to see a Falcon Heavy launch a stripped down Dragon with two crew and a kick stage for a GEO servicing mission.

    • upstream@beehaw.orgOP
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      1 year ago

      Considering it costs $67 million just to launch a reusable falcon 9 they’d have to be 100% sure of the outcome to bet on such a thing.

      If not you’re $100+ mill out and still have to replace a €420 million satellite…

      • zhunk@beehaw.org
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        1 year ago

        I think you’re right that a dedicated Falcon launch would be needed for getting something like a Northrop’s MEV out there, but if the spacecraft was “only” a smallsat with a few commercial arms on board, that might fit on a SpaceX rideshare for a lot less money.

        • upstream@beehaw.orgOP
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          1 year ago

          Geostationary usually doesn’t have too many rides shares if I’m not mistaken. Cost is the launch, not the unused capacity.

          • zhunk@beehaw.org
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            1 year ago

            I was picturing something boosting itself (or riding a tug) from a rideshare dropoff in LEO. The Transporter missions have all been to SSO, though, so that isn’t super helpful.

            • upstream@beehaw.orgOP
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              1 year ago

              Suppose that could be an option. Would need to be big, though, to have enough propellant to get to GEO.