From: Joe [email protected] Iknow kinda radical, but how about working with one of the radical new guys on the orbital block, Like the Chinese? or in a few years once they get all the bugs worked out, even the North Koreans?
There are a very limited number of organisations that have the capability of launching payloads into HEO. The USA, Russian Federation, ESA, India and Beijing can do it but that's it. Some others can launch very small payloads into very low orbits but that's all they can do. Very low orbits (e.g. 300 km) are currently of no use to us (that may change with Ion motor development.
Beijing like the other providers charge market prices for their launches and launch prices have been steady rising over the last few years because demand for launches is exceeding supply. It can now cost $100,000 just to get a 1 kg CubeSat into a low 650 km orbit.
It's not just P3E that is affected, KiwiSat, which has a 435/145 linear transponder, has been built for some time but is sitting on the ground. Apparently it needs $1 million to get into a launch into a low 650 km orbit.
BTW KiwiSat issued a status update on August 13, you can see it at http://www.kiwisat.org.nz/status.html
73 Trevor M5AKA