Ronn Blankenship wrote:
>
> The Earth's orbital velocity around the Sun is 29 km/sec
>
You get a little help from Earth's rotation speed; however,
you have to pay some extra Delta-V to get away from Earth's
gravity field.
> Anyone know offhand what the cost per kilogram might be
> for getting something there?
>
I might be able to point some URLs of launchers; however
I'm afraid I am professionally forbidden to give these
numbers :-/
For example, Ariane's launch of Brasilsat B4, at...
http://www.friends-partners.org/mwade/lvs/arie44lp.htm
... gives the following numbers:
LEO Payload: 9,100 kg. to: 200 km Orbit. at: 5.2 degrees.
Payload: 4,290 kg. to a: Geosynchronous transfer, 7 deg
inclination trajectory. Liftoff Thrust: 535,000 kgf.
Total Mass: 420,000 kg. Core Diameter: 3.8 m.
Total Length: 58.4 m. Launch Price $: 110.00 million.
in 2000 price dollars.
But think about this: if you double your Delta-V
requirement, you square the ratio of the mass of the cargo
divided by the mass of the rocket.
> There's a reason why space probes launched in the
> past decade or so to go anywhere further away than Mars have taken
> roundabout routes involving multiple planetary flybys . . .
>
Also, to get to the Sun it's cheaper to go to Jupiter and
then get back.
Alberto Monteiro
