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Arianespace Ready for Liftoff
stuckinarut writes to tell us Arianespace is reporting that their newest Ariane dual-satellite ECA mission rolled out of the assembly building and is set for a launch today (Nov 12) at 2345 GMT. This flight is set to demonstrate the massive lift capacity of nearly 10,000 kg and is currently the "only commercial vehicle that can launch two mainstream telecommunications satellite payloads on the same mission."
The only commercial vehicle that can lose two mainstream telecommunications satellite payloads on the same mission. ;)
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the first mainstream rocket that can destory 2 communications satellites at the same time. From the payload specs 2 very big and expensive ones at that.
A new Ariane and the Galileo GPS well under way, it seems Europe is into the space race in a very commercial way.
Sure, the suttle can do a lot of things that comercial vehicles can't do. The point here is the increasing abilities of comercial systems. Think about it, wouldn't you like to see inexpensive satellite services? Well as long as you have to rely on the government (through taxes) or expensive single shot commercial services that isn't going to happen. The sooner that commercial services eclipse NASA the better we will all be, or the better the national space program for China will be at least.
Maybe you missed the connection that the Space shuttle is a government vehicle, and is not accepting or launching commercial payload? Actually, it's not launching anything right now.
I doubt the launch is that much cheaper, and in the long run it definately won't be. Look at it this way - yes, there is a small marginal decrease in launch price as mass increases. But there is a much larger marginal increase in launch price as launch rate goes down. This could have been done in two launches. The vehicle design cost and launch personel cost (the primary cost components) is slightly higher (per kg) for a lower launch mass, but the cost is sunk (you have to pay the people even when you do not launch, and you have to pay interest on your design cost loans even when you do not launch). Essentially, the second launch is almost free! The only reason is doesn't seem that way is cost accounting, where the cost is spread out per flight. A more realistic accounting method is to say that the first flight costs $10B, and every flight thereafter costs only $10M.
In the free market, most companies know this - but in a government market, no one cares...
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The US Space Program should not be concerned with being commercially successful. Let private enterprise take care of putting commercial satellites in space. The capability is there now. The Space Program needs to return to its roots. It needs to return to space exploration, going to the next frontier. NASA seems to have lost its way. It is no longer made up of the best and the brightest as it once was. Certainly we shouldn't just throw money away but I think most Americans would still support the expense of space exploration if there were results they could see. The list of useful inventions that have made our life better due to the Space Program is impressive but not really the point. There is currently no excitement in the country because what is the goal right now. We need a visionary plan something to bring excitement to the masses and build support for NASA. As long as the mission is to put satellites into space or ferry supplies to the space station, no one will care, and NASA's critics will have the sole voice being heard.
In the free market, most companies know this
Ariane operates on a free market. Even if there is no competition.
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