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1. It only takes months if your satellite uses only ion engines. If it has regular hypergolic propellant engines it only takes hours. 2. ULA's (Lockheed Martin
by wolf550e 8y ago
1. It only takes months if your satellite uses only ion engines. If it has regular hypergolic propellant engines it only takes hours.
2. ULA's (Lockheed Martin and Boeing) Atlas V and Delta IV can make direct-to-GEO insertion, and basically only the DoD wants that. SpaceX plans to use FH to get DoD contracts, but it's not a very large market. It used to be very lucrative for ULA, but SpaceX will lower prices so it won't be as lucrative for them.
- jryle70 8y agoMonths going to GEO are months of revenue lost, and mass for propellant is less mass for payload. That's the tradeoffs that may not be compelling for some customers.