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#1 2002-09-18 16:16:20

Adrian
Moderator
From: London, United Kingdom
Registered: 2001-09-04
Posts: 642
Website

Re: India's cheap PSLV launcher - Only $15 million a flight!

I'd like to know people's opinions on India's cheap new rocket, as detailed in this article. The latest mission only cost $15 million USD, and:

With each new mission, the PSLV's lifting capabilities have been enhanced from a 40 kg payload in a 1980 launch until its present capacity to either place a three-tonne satellite in low-earth orbit or put a 1,050 (kg?) satellite like Wednesday's METSAT into high geo-synchronous orbit.

Now, is it me or is this pretty cheap?


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#2 2002-09-18 16:30:34

Phobos
Member
Registered: 2002-01-02
Posts: 1,103

Re: India's cheap PSLV launcher - Only $15 million a flight!

It's definately cheap as far as small payloads go but I don't know if it would be economical for a mission with a lot of tonnage.  If that thing can only lift three tonnes to LEO  you'd need 30+ launches just to put a modest 100 ton Mars Direct type infrastructure into orbit.


To achieve the impossible you must attempt the absurd

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