How much does it cost to send a satellite into orbit?

How much does it cost to send a satellite into orbit?

Launching a single satellite into space can cost anywhere between $10 million and $400 million, depending on the vehicle used. A small launch vehicle such as the Pegasus XL rocket can lift 976 pounds (443 kilograms) into low-Earth orbit for about $13.5 million. That works out to be almost $14,000 per pound.

How much per pound does it cost to go to space?

Today, it costs $10,000 to put a pound of payload in Earth orbit. NASA’s goal is to reduce the cost of getting to space to hundreds of dollars per pound within 25 years and tens of dollars per pound within 40 years.

How much will it cost to launch a satellite?

It is estimated that a single satellite launch can range in cost from a low of about $50 million to a high of about $400 million. Launching a space shuttle mission can easily cost $500 million dollars, although one mission is capable of carrying multiple satellites and send them into orbit.

How do you launch a satellite into orbit?

Launching a satellite into orbit requires consideration of a number of major science ideas. These include gravity, circular motion and atmospheric drag. Satellites need to be placed in orbit high above the Earth’s atmosphere so that the drag of the atmospheric gases doesn’t make the orbiting satellite slow down.

How does this data repository compare costs between space launch vehicles?

This data repository compares costs between space launch vehicles by incorporating many vehicle characteristics into a single figure: the cost to launch one kilogram of payload mass to low Earth orbit (LEO) as part of a dedicated launch.

How much does it cost to get to space?

Today, it costs $10,000 to put a pound of payload in Earth orbit. NASA’s goal is to reduce the cost of getting to space to hundreds of dollars per pound within 25 years and tens of dollars per pound within 40 years.

What is the minimum height of a satellite in space?

A good minimum height for a satellite is 100 km above the Earth’s surface. This is the official definition of space (the Kármán line) because there are so few gas particles above this altitude. However, most satellites are placed into orbit between 500 and 1500 km.