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In a post SpaceX world, with cheap(ish) launches a reality, even for large payloads, how does this change the design parameters for instruments like this? I wou
by bane 9y ago
In a post SpaceX world, with cheap(ish) launches a reality, even for large payloads, how does this change the design parameters for instruments like this? I would imagine that since launches used to be so expensive, it put pressure to create exquisite instruments that (should) work perfectly and robustly for a long time.
But if launch costs are dirt cheap you can put up any old thing for a year or two, burn it up and launch an improved model with newer tech...repeat as long as needed, or launch dozens of instruments instead.
I feel like we're on the cusp of something here and mission profiles like this will feel like the ancient Phalanx-like relics of thought processes that no longer are relevant.