How Much Does It Cost to Launch a Satellite?
Short answer: It depends almost entirely on mass and whether you buy a seat or the whole rocket. A 50 kg smallsat rides a SpaceX Transporter mission for $350k ($7,000 per kilogram, 2026 price list), so a 150 kg satellite pays about $1.1M. A dedicated small launcher such as Electron carries up to 300 kg to your exact orbit; Rocket Lab publishes no list price, and its launch revenue averaged about $9.2M per launch in the first half of 2026. A dedicated Falcon 9 lists at $74M, quoted for up to 5,500 kg to geostationary transfer orbit.
List and rideshare prices as of 2026-10-11. Figures track the launch cost guide; contract prices vary.
Price by option
| Option | Price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Smallsat, 50 kg, rideshare to SSO | $350k | SpaceX rideshare minimum; $7,000/kg (2026 flights) |
| Smallsat, 150 kg, rideshare | ~$1.1M | Arithmetic at the 2026 rate, before integration, transport and insurance: see the hidden costs |
| Dedicated small launch (Electron, up to 300 kg) | about $9.2M | Rocket Lab publishes no Electron list price. Its launch revenue averaged about $9.2M per launch in the first half of 2026 (Electron and HASTE together). Your orbit, your schedule. |
| Dedicated Falcon 9 | $74M | List price for up to 5,500 kg to GTO (reusable booster); 22,800 kg to LEO expendable |
| Heavier GEO satellites (Falcon Heavy) | $97M (last listed 2022) | For satellites beyond Falcon 9, or direct-to-GEO insertion |
| Ariane 6 or Vulcan Centaur | No published list price | Arianespace and ULA price per mission; an Ariane 64 can carry two satellites and split the bill |
The costs that are not on the price list
- Integration, dispenser and range or campaign fees on top of the per-kilogram rate.
- Launch insurance, quoted per mission; many operators self-insure smallsats.
- Transport in a conditioned container, cleanroom rental at the site, and a team on site for weeks.
- An orbital transfer vehicle or onboard propulsion if the rideshare drop-off orbit is not the one you need.
- Licensing (FCC/ITU, NOAA if imaging, export control if launching abroad).
Frequently asked
How much does SpaceX charge to launch a satellite?
Rideshare starts at $350,000 for 50 kg, $7,000 per kilogram for 2026 flights. A dedicated Falcon 9 lists at $74M; Falcon Heavy was last listed at $97M in 2022. Government missions cost more: NASA's inspector general put NASA's average launch cost for four Falcon 9 missions at $95 million.
How much does it cost per kilogram to launch a satellite?
About $7,000 per kilogram on a SpaceX rideshare. $3,246 per kilogram if one payload filled a dedicated Falcon 9 to its expendable LEO maximum. About $30,667 per kilogram if one payload filled an Electron, using Rocket Lab's average launch revenue. Starship has no published price: Elon Musk's stated long-run goal is under $nullM a launch, about $0/kg at 100 t: a target, not a price. SpaceX sells no Starship launches yet.
Can I launch a satellite for free?
Rarely. NASA's CubeSat Launch Initiative offers selected US education and nonprofit teams low-cost access to space; commercial payloads pay.
Run your own numbers
Mass, orbit, vehicle, insurance: the calculator does the delivered-cost math.
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Sources
Every figure on this page comes from one of these. Prices change; dates show when each was published or read.
- SpaceX rideshare price list: $7,000/kg for 2026 flights, $7,500/kg for 2027, 50 kg minimum (SpaceX (rideshare price list behind rideshare.spacex.com), 2026-10-11)
- Falcon 9 standard price: $74M through 2026 for up to 5.5 t to GTO (Spaceflight Now (reporting SpaceX Capabilities and Services page), 2026-02-24)
- Falcon 9 payload figures (22,800 kg to LEO expendable, 8,300 kg to GTO) (SpaceX, 2026-10-09)
- Falcon Heavy $97M, the last price SpaceX published (March 2022) (The Motley Fool (reporting the SpaceX price sheet), 2022-04-09)
- Rocket Lab launch revenue averaged $9.2M per launch in the first half of 2026 (Rocket Lab Form 10-Q (six months to June 30, 2026), 2026-08-10)
- NASA OIG audit of Commercial Resupply Services (IG-18-016): CRS averages, cost per kilogram, NASA Falcon 9 average launch cost (NASA Office of Inspector General, 2018-04-26)
- NASA CubeSat Launch Initiative: eligibility and terms (NASA, 2023-08-01)
- Starship goal and Flight 14 (vehicle catalogue entry) (SpaceX, 2026-09-28)
- Ariane 64 configuration (payload and dual launch) (CNES, 2026-10-09)
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