Thread: MP satellites
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Old 11-29-2020, 04:41 PM
mmartin798 mmartin798 is offline
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The size of the satellite and the launch vehicle is very interesting. We now have small satellites ranging from 100g femto-satellites, 1kg pico-satellites, 10kg nano-satellites, 100kg micro-satellites, and 500kg mini-satellites (the masses are the upper mass value for that class satellite). In the mini- and micro- sizes, they are doing radiation measurements, ground surveillance, weather tracking, and internet connectivity. Current GPS Block IIF satellites are massive, coming in at 1630kg. It would not be as easy for MP to launch a comparable constellation of satellites. Could MP launch a constellation of smaller satellites giving accuracy on the order of a meter instead of a few cm? With enough handwavium it can be reasonable.

This is important, because there are a number of private, small Single Stage to Orbit (SSO) launch vehicles out there. One of them is Electron, which in it's current version can handle a 300kg payload to LEO and 200kg payload SSO. Electron rockets are only 17m tall and 1.2m in diameter. These are small and would be easy to launch almost anywhere.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electron_(rocket)

It would not be unreasonable to imagine 10-12 semi-tractor pulling trailers and tankers being able to make a portable launch site just about anywhere. 1 trailer with eight Electron rockets, 1 having the gantry, 2 forming the tracking radar, 1 fusion generator and 5-7 tankers carrying RP-1 and LOX. That's a lot of satellites from a relatively small group of vehicles.
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