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As satellites are getting smaller, this may be a very efficient launch vehicle. Designed for small payload 150 - 220 kg for $4.9 million per launch. https://e
by jakozaur 9y ago
As satellites are getting smaller, this may be a very efficient launch vehicle.
Designed for small payload 150 - 220 kg for $4.9 million per launch.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electron_(rocket) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electron_(rocket)
Frequent launches, so you can launch CubeSats as main payload, without waiting for one of the big launch which has some extra space:
http://spaceflight101.com/2016-space-launch-statistics/ http://spaceflight101.com/2016-space-launch-statistics/
- baq 9y agothe problem is you can get anywhere between 10 and 20 metric tons depending on the exact LEO/SSO for a list price of $62M on a falcon 9; what SpaceX doesn't have is room in the manifest.
- valuearb 9y agoTheir risk is if SpaceX uses re-usable Falcon 9s to up their launch cadence and clean up their manifest. Imagine if they start launching weekly for example. At current prices they could sell 500lb spots for $2 - $3M. And theoretically with re-usable boosters they can cut prices as much as by half. Obviously I'm speculating as to how soon and how much, but clearly SpaceX intends to increase cadence relatively soon, and eventually lower prices. I don't really like Rocket Lab's competitive position given that. But maybe there is a big enough market in small payloads, esp. those requiring polar orbits, and those requiring their own specific orbits that can't piggyback on someone elses launches, to have room for both.