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The cost od the lower bay on an Ariane 5 is 60 million USD. The cost of a launch on Falcon 9 is 62 million USD. That's not 20 million less, that's 2 million m
by kuschku 9y ago
The cost od the lower bay on an Ariane 5 is 60 million USD.
The cost of a launch on Falcon 9 is 62 million USD.
That's not 20 million less, that's 2 million more — ofc, finding a second satellite to launch with is with Ariane more time consuming, so you'll not be as agile.
And if SpaceX cuts the cost of a non-reusable launch (previously 62mm) by 50mm, to 12mm, that'd be a breakthrough. If you meant to say that they cut the cost of reusable launches (previously 30mm) by 500mm (aka paying people for launching), then lol.
- makomk 9y agoOn the other hand, SpaceX's launch delays have historically cost companies quite a bit due to not having their satellites available when they'd promised their paying customers they would.
- walls 9y agoIf you launched with a second satellite on the Falcon 9, wouldn't it only be 30 million? Seems weird to compare launching multiple payloads with launching one.
- greglindahl 9y agoSpaceX has launched a pair of comsats twice, it was organized by Boeing. However, Boeing hasn't succeeded in selling any more of these pairs. Arianespace has had a lot more success in convincing customers to fit into the upper berth/lower berth size/mass limits.
- dmoy 9y agoIt is a bit disingenuous to neglect to mention that a5'd lower bay payload is half the size of a f9 payload.
- greglindahl 9y agoThe PRICE of the lower bay on Ariane 5 is around $60mm, because of SpaceX. That's not a signal that Arianespace is doing great competing with SpaceX, it's a sign that Arianespace had to lower their price to compete.