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I suspect that you can save some weight if you have multiple satellites going to the same orbit, or if you have a chain of satellites that can be dropped off in
by olympus 9y ago
I suspect that you can save some weight if you have multiple satellites going to the same orbit, or if you have a chain of satellites that can be dropped off into similar orbits as the kick stage can be stopped and started several times. But while each individual satellite doesn’t need an engine, you now have to launch an engine and fuel capable of moving a batch of satellites together, so it’s not like you’re eliminating the weight entirely.
- TeMPOraL 9y agoA serious satellite will still need an engine and some fuel for stationkeeping. But the extra stage would be useful for dropping various cubesats at different orbits, which is what I think is Electron's target market.