Even though business is quickly growing in the commercial spaceflight sector, small satellites can still take several years before they're actually launched into space. However, startup spaceflight company Vector Space Systems intends to change that. If all goes according to plan, they will be providing hundreds of launches every year.
According to a press release, Vector Space Systems wants to be the space taxi by offering a launch service "Where you want, when you want, and how you want it."
Companies can setup their own schedules and choose the orbit they see fit, with Vector launching possibly weekly or maybe even every few days. Though still very expensive, they assert that they will provide the lowest price for a dedicated launch.
The team asserts that their vehicle is capable of placing satellites weighing up to 45 kg (99 lb) into a low-Earth orbit and 25 kg (55 lb) into a standard Sun-synchronous orbit. As the above image reveals, these are slated to cost around 2 to 3 million dollars each, but they do allow you to reserve launches in as little as three months in advance.
Best of all? The first stage will be reusable, which is ultimately the key to keeping prices down.
The company has spent the last few years designing and testing their currently-unnamed launch vehicles, and they have been doing test flights for the past few years. They intend to begin real flights in 2017.
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