Falcon 9 launch prices for the government keeps getting higher ... 97 M$ for sentinel 6A a small Earth Observation satellite weighting less than 1,5 tons is not cheap. sentinel 5p was just launched on a Rockot for almost 3 times less.
That entire amount isn't necessarily for SpaceX, it's what NASA is spending on the launch campaign. (It's also quite a bit less than the SWOT launch.)
approximately $97 million, which includes the launch service and other mission related costs.
Were international vehicles even an option for NASA for this launch? Or are they required to use domestic services?If domestic only, I don't think there were any cheaper options. SpaceX isn't in the business of giving away launches, especially if NASA required a new booster, which seems likely.
Jason-2 Falcon 9 $82mTESS Falcon 9 $97mSWOT Falcon 9 $112mGPS III-2 Falcon 9 $83mGPS III-3 Falcon 9 $96.5mJPSS-2 Atlas V 401 $170.6mTDRS-M Atlas V 401 $132.4m
The total value of the Jason-3 launch service is approximately $82 million. This estimated cost includes the task-ordered launch service for the Falcon 9 v1.0, plus additional services under other contracts for payload processing, launch vehicle integration, mission-unique launch site ground support and tracking, data and telemetry services. NASA is the procurement agent for NOAA.
Quote from: envy887 on 10/19/2017 09:13 pmWere international vehicles even an option for NASA for this launch? Or are they required to use domestic services?If domestic only, I don't think there were any cheaper options. SpaceX isn't in the business of giving away launches, especially if NASA required a new booster, which seems likely.NASA uses the NASA Launch Services Program for accessing commercial launch services. The current version of that program is NLS II, which currently only has American companies as options (see their website here).NASA has launched payloads on non-U.S. launch providers, and no doubt that was because of partnership agreements. But if the payload is U.S.-only, then NLS II would be used.And from what I've heard, standard launch prices have already been determined for NLS II providers, so it would just be the additional services that increase the prices - which can be significant depending on what the customer wants.Based on that I would imagine SpaceX charges their standard price for their standard service ($62M), which means NASA wanted $35M in additional services.
...And from what I've heard, standard launch prices have already been determined for NLS II providers, so it would just be the additional services that increase the prices - which can be significant depending on what the customer wants.Based on that I would imagine SpaceX charges their standard price for their standard service ($62M), which means NASA wanted $35M in additional services.
But has NASA actually paid for a non-US launch? ...
Being a member of the NLS club means you can bid on missions--and are required to do so if you are qualified for a given mission. The bid may be lower, but may not be higher than the negotiated NTE. Award is then based on whatever formula and weighting NASA uses to evaluate a particular task order, including extra services.NLS is also indefinite quantity indefinite delivery (IDIQ)--no guarantee of an order, ever. The provider thus takes all of the cost risk for the duration of the NLS contract. I expect there is a non-trivial premium charged by all providers (including SpaceX) for carrying that risk.
Sentinel 5P is 900 kg at 824 km, this is 1440 kg at 1336 km. So there is quite a difference and there isn't a lot of competition in this range. Maybe a Minotaur IV could have done it?But this is indeed expensive, it's something like $67K / kg.For Falcon 9 this will be easy RTLS and very profitable.
Would have been a helluvalot more expensive had it been put on an Arianespace launcher.