[amsat-bb] Re: Bill Ress - N6GHz - Board Candidate - OperatingSurvey

[Lee McLamb]

On Tuesday 22 July 2008 08:11:56 Andrew Glasbrenner wrote:
> Some replies to Ed's comments:
> > The Intelsat should be much less expensive:
> > 1-free ride
> > 2-free power
> > 3-free stabilization
>
> Let me clarify this some. It is -not- a free ride. Intelsat will charge us
> for the loss of operational time for every kg of stationkeeping fuel they
> offload to accomondate our extra mass. There may be some recurring expenses
> as well.

Actually one of the things that makes an Intelsat rideshare more affordable 
now is that because the launch vehicles have gotten bigger, they typically 
would not have to offload any fuel due to our small mass increase.  However, 
the increase in mass does increase their consumption rate of station keeping 
fuel.  The resulting reduced operating life expectancy is certainly part of 
the equation that they will include in quoting prices.

73,
Lee-KU4OS