In a message dated 06/08/2009 08:44:08 GMT Standard Time, Richard@g3rwl.demon.co.uk writes:
I'm surprised no-one else has done the math on this. The website says they'll launch 30 tubesats on a flight. 30 x eight grand comes out just under a quarter million US dollars - and they say this will cover *all* associated services as well as the launch. I find it rather hard to believe that even the launch vehicle would only cost US$240K per flight.
-- 73 Richard W L Limebear G3RWL g3rwl@amsat.org FOC # 1188
30 x 0.75 kg is almost no payload. Presumably the rest of the cost is covered by a primary payload or lager better more expensive TubeSats.
If their idea for frequency allocation is typical of the rest of their planning, I suspect this is just vopourware which will never fly.
David
I find it rather hard to believe that even the launch vehicle would only cost US$240K per flight.
Hi Richard,
But why should a low mass launch cost more than say $100k a time, particularly if it's only an "atmosphere skimmer" ?
We are used to Government run high-cost space operations, there are other ways of doing things. Personally I'm skeptical about the Tonga operation. From their website they appear desperate for money, not a good sign when they haven't even got a launcher. But others will resolve the issues and I look forward to the day in maybe 15-20 years when we have dozens of free enterprise launch companies around the world.
The funeral market is potentially massive. I reckon each year tens (if not hundreds) of thousands of people worldwide would fork out $10k for part of their ashes to be sent out into space and then burn up in the atmosphere, with of course an artists impression picture of their re-entry sent to their nearest and dearest.
73 Trevor M5AKA
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