[amsat-bb] New Low-cost Launcher For Satellites

[Rich/wa4bue]

The cost of a launch has been a problem since day one of our space program 
and will remain a problem until there are many paradigm shifts.  But the 
longer it is business as usual, the cost to orbit a satellite will remain 
high.  Not but a few months ago we were celebrating on the blog so many 
birds being launched and they were - and they are in orbit (in operational).

For all of us now and for everyone in the past that want to communicate with 
OSCARs it is a long slow path to routine.  But if it was routine we would 
find ourselves taking OSCAR communications for granted just like 20 meters.

Who on the blog has an idea for cheaper launch and think about HEO too?

How about you BJ?

Rich
W4BUE


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "B J" <va6bmj at gmail.com>
To: "M5AKA" <m5aka at yahoo.co.uk>
Cc: "AMSAT BB" <amsat-bb at amsat.org>
Sent: Tuesday, July 29, 2014 8:51 PM
Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] New Low-cost Launcher For Satellites


> On 7/29/14, M5AKA <m5aka at yahoo.co.uk> wrote:
>> It&#39;s another company that has yet to demonstrate it can actually 
>> achieve
>> successful satellite launches, there must be about half a dozen such
>> companies by now. But I guess there&#39;s a good chance  some of them may
>> succeed in launching a satellite in the next 5 or so years. The more 
>> launch
>> capacity the better.
>>
>> Getting launches at under $100,000 per kilo is hard which is why even
>> unproven companies can attract interest from sat groups desperate to 
>> launch.
>
> <snip>
>
> I know of one such company.  Its booster is several years behind
> schedule and has yet to fly.  Its launch facility has still under
> construction, as far as I know.  However, I also know of someone
> looking to put a bird into orbit and it appears that this company will
> put it there for them.  From what I understand, the price offered to
> that client was, relatively speaking, dirt cheap.  I guess someone's
> desperate for business.
>
> Personally, if I was doing something like that, I'd rather pay a
> higher cost but know that I'm dealing with a launch service that has a
> proven track record.
>
> 73s
>
> Bernhard VA6BMJ @ DO33FL
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