Launch for Manufacturing Missions
What does launch cost a manufacturing mission, and how does launch availability shape the sector?
Chapter summary
launch is now a minority of a free-flyer's cost.
Key takeaways
- 1
On SpaceX's 2026 rideshare list price, $350,000 for the first 50 kilograms plus $7,000 per additional kilogram to sun-synchronous orbit (Study S5), a 300 kg spacecraft pays about $2.1 million, roughly a quarter of Setcoin's reference mission cost.
- 2
Rideshares fly roughly monthly, which sets the maximum cadence for capsule companies relying on them.
- 3
The constraints are orbit choice (rideshares go to sun-synchronous orbits that may not suit landing sites), schedule control and dependence on one provider.
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