A Space & astronomy forum. SpaceBanter.com

Go Back   Home » SpaceBanter.com forum » Space Science » Policy
Site Map Home Authors List Search Today's Posts Mark Forums Read Web Partners

Japan launches smallest rocket ever to carry satellite into orbit



 
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
  #11  
Old February 5th 18, 11:52 AM posted to sci.space.policy
Jeff Findley[_6_]
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 2,307
Default Japan launches smallest rocket ever to carry satellite into orbit

In article ,
says...

On Sunday, February 4, 2018 at 4:12:21 PM UTC-5, Fred J. McCall wrote:
"Scott M. Kozel" wrote:

On Sunday, February 4, 2018 at 12:49:24 AM UTC-5, Fred J. McCall wrote:


And can put up a whopping 4kg payload. That's around 0.007% of the
payload of a Falcon Heavy. In other words, you could stick tens of
thousands of such payloads on a single Falcon Heavy.


But with miniaturization of electronics today, isn't that 4 kg payload
very effective for many applications?


For very selective definitions of "very effective" and "many
applications". But you're missing the point. A Falcon Heavy launch
costs just under $100 million. So if your sounding rocket costs more
than $10 thousand or so per launch (and it most certainly does) it is
cheaper to launch 10,000 of the tiny payloads on Falcon Heavy than it
is to launch them on a tiny launcher.


That would depend on how many payloads need to be launched and to where.
How often would 10,000 small payloads need to be launched at the same
and to the same place?

One small payload to one particular place might be effective to launch
on one small rocket.


While true, the more obvious scenario is the opportunity for smallsats
to be launched as secondary payloads on Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy
flights. Falcon Heavy, in particular, ought to be able to offer a lot
of these.

Unfortunately, Falcon Heavy is likely to be constrained by the size of
its fairing. It's the same size as Falcon 9. So while you could
theoretically launch a crap ton of satellites on it, you'll likely max
out the available (safe) payload volume in the fairing long before
maxing out the payload capacity in terms of payload mass.

Jeff
--
All opinions posted by me on Usenet News are mine, and mine alone.
These posts do not reflect the opinions of my family, friends,
employer, or any organization that I am a member of.
 




Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

vB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Forum Jump

Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Japan launches 5th spy satellite [email protected] Policy 0 November 29th 09 03:08 AM
NK rocket fails to orbit satellite Pat Flannery History 26 April 9th 09 06:12 AM
CHINA Launches Satellite For Moon Orbit: First Step Toward Lunar Domination -- Or Ownership? Balsina Twyst Policy 24 November 4th 07 12:03 AM
What's the heaviest rocket the Crawlers can carry? D. Scott Ferrin History 3 September 19th 05 07:45 PM
Orbital Successfully Launches Minotaur Rocket Carrying U.S. AirForce's XSS-11 Satellite Jacques van Oene News 0 April 12th 05 05:02 PM


All times are GMT +1. The time now is 12:56 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.6.4
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Copyright ©2004-2024 SpaceBanter.com.
The comments are property of their posters.