Re: [amsat-bb] Cost of real, not hypothetical, Amateur Rocket

["Assi Friedman" <4x1kx@xxxxxxxx>]

Zak,
Sounding rockets are a different beast from orbital launch vehicles.
Manned missions are also a different beast from unmanned missions.
These two differences turn this a "trees to apples" comparison. :-)
If you would like to look at more applicable case studies, you can look at
the first launch of the Orbital's Pegasus (way back) and at present
SpaceX. SpaceX is attempting to design and build a low cost launch vehicle
and claim it would cost $5.9 million per launch. If they succeed and
manage to maintain that cost structure, it will be a significant
opportunity for the smallsat market. History does teach us that Orbital
tried to do the same but over the years the price converged on a "customer
driven price". We will see if this happens with SpaceX or not.
Assi
4x1kx/kk7kx



> http://www.arrl.org/news/stories/2002/06/19/1/
> The 2002 attempt cost $100,000.
>
> The 2004 flight achieved their goal of 62 miles (77 miles claimed).
> http://www.arrl.org/news/stories/2004/05/19/1/?nc=1
> http://www.civilianspace.com/news/n5_18_04_success.htm
>
> While not amateur, the $20 million dollar cost of SpaceShipOne
> might be a useful number.
> http://www.rense.com/general54/ruit.htm
> It took its pilot to the 62 mile edge of space.
>
> These rockets just reached the edge of space and fell back to
> Earth--rockets
> that would place something in orbit would need to go significantly faster.
>
> Zack Lau W1VT
> ----
> Sent via amsat-bb@amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author.
> Not an AMSAT member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program!
> To unsubscribe, send "unsubscribe amsat-bb" to Majordomo@amsat.org
----
Sent via amsat-bb@amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author.
Not an AMSAT member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program!
To unsubscribe, send "unsubscribe amsat-bb" to Majordomo@amsat.org