How Much Does It Cost to Fly a Hosted Payload?
Short answer: A hosted payload, your sensor flying on somebody else's satellite, typically costs $5-50 million all-in, set by the mass, power and data the host must give up and by the orbit. Compared with building, launching and operating a dedicated satellite (often $100 million-plus for a GEO mission), it can be a tenth of the price. The trade is control: you fly when the host flies, point where the host points, and live as long as the host lives.
2026 list and rideshare prices. Figures track the launch cost guide; contract prices vary.
Price by option
| Option | Price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Small instrument on a GEO comsat | $5M-$20M | Classic model: environmental or navigation sensors on Intelsat/SES buses |
| Large instrument on a GEO comsat (TEMPO/GOLD class) | $30M-$50M+ hosting fee | NASA science instruments on commercial Intelsat and SES satellites |
| Hosted slot on a LEO smallsat bus | $1M-$5M | Loft Orbital, Spire and others sell standardized space-as-a-service slots |
| Dedicated smallsat instead (build + launch) | $5M-$30M | For comparison; you own the schedule and pointing |
The costs that are not on the price list
- Integration deadlines belong to the host: miss the host ship date and the slot is gone.
- Data downlink and pointing are negotiated, not owned.
- Anomalies on the host satellite end your mission too.
Frequently asked
Who sells hosted payload slots?
GEO operators (Intelsat, SES, Eutelsat) on their communications satellites, and LEO bus-as-a-service companies such as Loft Orbital and Spire that fly customer instruments on standard buses.
Is a hosted payload faster than a dedicated satellite?
Usually. You join a satellite already being built, so 18-24 months from contract to orbit is common versus 3-5 years for a new spacecraft.