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If you get on a SpaceX ride share, you don't get to choose your own orbit. You'll have to make-do with an orbit that may (or may not) be close to your desired o
by torpfactory 7y ago
If you get on a SpaceX ride share, you don't get to choose your own orbit. You'll have to make-do with an orbit that may (or may not) be close to your desired one. Unless you want your satellite to have propulsion, which might eat up any cost advantage. With Rocket Lab, you'll get the orbit you want typically, since you'll probably be the only vehicle on board.
I suppose if SpaceX had an enormous manifest of small sats they could bin them into similar orbits, but that would really depend on just how successful they are.
- ThisIsTheWay 7y agoSlight clarification: SpaceX offers ride shares to distinct orbits, and customers can select what ride works best for their payload. Obviously if you're interested in an equatorial orbit, you're not going to select a launch from Vandenberg...
- SirLotsaLocks 7y agoWhat are the major differences between the different orbits from the perspective of the passengers?
- torpfactory 7y agoWell it really depends on what you want to do with your satellite. Are you trying to view earth? If so, then inclination and altitude matter, as they will determine what parts of earth’s surface you can see at all. Do you want to take pictures? Then you probably want something sun synchronous so the lighting is reliable. Need to do communication at high latitudes? You’ll want something like a polar orbit. At lower altitudes your orbit will decay faster due to aerodynamic drag. It’s totally like riding the bus: you wouldn’t typically get off at just any stop and call it good. Here’s a good YouTube on different types of orbits. Not sure if it covers everything but certainly entertaining: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=PZAkiXNJIqc https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=PZAkiXNJIqc