On Mon, 25 Aug 2003, Adrian Tymes wrote:
> Also keep in mind: the main cost of the mission, and
> practically all missions like this, is merely in
> launching the pieces into Earth orbit...
Alas, not so, at least not directly. Launch cost is typically only a
modest fraction of the total cost of something like this; the spacecraft
costs rather more than the launch.
Mind you, spacecraft cost is indirectly driven up by the cost and scarcity
of launches. However, the spacecraft for a mission like *this* -- long
mission, harsh conditions, one window of opportunity and no chance to try
again -- is always going to be a wee tad expensive.
Henry Spencer
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