Launch Costs

It's a hairsplitting argument. Here goes:

Launch costs are not a significant detriment to today's space businesses.
Companies are able to launch and operate telecommunications and remote
sensing satellites profitably, and at the end of the day, launch costs are
only a small fraction of the overall cost of such systems. Therefore,
launch costs are not prohibitively high for existing space businesses.

HOWEVER...

Launch costs ARE prohibitively high for the space businesses that have yet
to develop. Launch costs are a big barrier to my dream of taking my
family on a one-week vacation to LEO. My family weighs 450 pounds, and
launch costs are, say, $2000/lb, which equates to $900,000 just in launch
costs alone, which is many times the value of the home in which we live.

Ron Menich
*************************

jdr7181@...
10/11/01 12:45 AM
Please respond to spacesettlers

To: spacesettlers@yahoogroups.com
cc:
Subject: [spacesettlers] Launch Costs

I know you guys have addressed this and I just don't get it. If
launch costs aren't the problem, what is? Everywhere I turn I see
the major impediment to routine space operations (well beyond what we
have today) is the cost to reach LEO or GEO. If it's not launch
costs, what is it?

Also, is there a good site with tutorial on launch costs and factors
affecting them and the like? Or a book I can buy (something
like, "Launch Costs for Idiots")?

Thanks in advance for any information.

Jack

Launch costs are not a significant detriment to today's space businesses. Companies are able to launch and operate telecommunications and remote sensing satellites profitably, and at the end of the day, launch costs are only a small fraction of the overall cost of such systems. Therefore, launch costs are not prohibitively high for existing space businesses.
HOWEVER...
Launch costs ARE prohibitively high for the space businesses that have yet to develop. Launch costs are a big barrier to my dream of taking my family on a one-week vacation to LEO. My family weighs 450 pounds, and launch costs are, say, $2000/lb, which equates to $900,000 just in launch costs alone, which is many times the value of the home in which we live.
Ron Menich
*************************
jdr7181@...
10/11/01 12:45 AM
Please respond to spacesettlers

To: spacesettlers@yahoogroups.com
cc:
Subject: [spacesettlers] Launch Costs
I know you guys have addressed this and I just don't get it. If
launch costs aren't the problem, what is? Everywhere I turn I see
the major impediment to routine space operations (well beyond what we
have today) is the cost to reach LEO or GEO. If it's not launch
costs, what is it?
Also, is there a good site with tutorial on launch costs and factors
affecting them and the like? Or a book I can buy (something
like, "Launch Costs for Idiots")?
Thanks in advance for any information.
Jack