• 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.