Stratolaunch may be shutting down

Rgbeard

Rgbeard

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rgbeard
Rumors lead to perceptions, which lead to reality.
 
It’s too bad. Just flight tested. May have some real applications. Hopefully bought up before it sits for a few years wasting away. Was pretty cool watching vids of that thing flying around. Would be a better option for more rapid response to need for satellite launching then rocketry yes??
 
benyflyguy said:
Would be a better option for more rapid response to need for satellite launching then rocketry yes??
Click to expand...
Better option, yes...The question is the market. None of the air-launch systems can throw THAT big of a payload into orbit, and the small-satellite folks usually aren't in that big of a rush. Plus, many can't afford to have a ~$200M satellite sitting in storage in case the existing one goes tango uniform. Besides, they degrade in storage, too, so you still have to re-test it, replace batteries, etc.

The military needs rapid replenishment of comm and intelligence satellites, but has been reluctant to pay the sizable cost. Their existing models are too big for Stratolaunch, and there's understandable hesitation to accept smaller, less capable satellites in exchange for the possibility that somewhere, sometime, multiple existing assets will be taken out near-simultaneously.

When old satellites are replaced, they aren't always shut down. They are out into on-orbit storage modes and can, conceivably, be re-activated if needed.

One program I worked actually does have spare satellites in ground storage. But it is assumed that several months would be required to ready them for launch. If expedited launch services are needed, I presume the Government would "bump" another payload.

Ron Wanttaja
 
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