How much does it cost to launch a satellite?

Launch costs range from about $3,246/kg on a full dedicated SpaceX Falcon 9 ($7,000/kg on rideshare) to $54,000/kg historically on the Space Shuttle. A small satellite mission can cost $5-15M total including the satellite, launch, and operations.

What factors affect mission cost?

Key cost drivers: orbit altitude and inclination, satellite mass, launch vehicle selection, ground station requirements, mission duration, insurance, and regulatory compliance (spectrum licensing, debris mitigation).

Is the mission cost calculator accurate?

This calculator provides rough order of magnitude estimates for mission planning. Actual costs depend on many factors including launch vehicle availability, payload integration, and market conditions. Use it for early-stage feasibility analysis.

Where do these launch prices come from?

Only from sources you can open: SpaceX's published Falcon 9 and rideshare rates, the last Falcon Heavy price SpaceX published, Rocket Lab's average revenue per launch, a price Rocket Lab has stated for Neutron, and a press estimate for New Glenn. Each price is labelled with what kind of figure it is. Most other launch providers publish no prices, so they are not priced here. Ask providers for quotes.

What factors affect satellite launch costs?

Key factors include payload mass, target orbit (LEO is cheapest, GEO and beyond are most expensive), launch vehicle selection, rideshare vs. dedicated launch, insurance requirements, and regulatory compliance costs.

What is the cheapest way to launch a satellite?

SpaceX rideshare on Falcon 9 costs $7,000 per kg with a 50 kg minimum, so the smallest booking is $350,000 (SpaceX rideshare rate list, 2026). Rocket Lab publishes no Electron list price; its launches averaged about $9.2 million each in the first half of 2026.

Mission Planning - Launch Cost Estimation & Analysis

🎯 Mission Parameters

Payload Mass (kg)

Target Orbit

Insurance rate (% of payload value)

Your assumption. The 5% default is illustrative, not a market rate; insurers quote each mission.

Payload Value (for insurance)

Include Insurance EstimateInclude Regulatory Fees

🚀

Configure Your Mission

Enter your payload mass, target orbit, and mission type above, then click "Calculate Cost" to get a comprehensive cost breakdown.

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🛡️ Insurance estimates

📋 Regulatory fees

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