• Rarely do you get the SAME vehicle made with 2 different technologies at 2 different times. LauncherOne and Pegasus, we’ll get as close to an apples-to-apples comparison as possible. This will be VERY interesting to watch – solids vs liquids, Boeing vs Lockheed, New Space company from the 80s (what OSC wanted to be) vs New Space company from the 00s.

    Who will win? The customers!

  • Robert G. Oler

    I am curious why the Phantom program is going on when this is here

  • Michael Halpern

    Phantom Express is a reusable first stage, and built mostly on previous (failed/cancelled) spaceplane programs including a very significant portion of liquid fly back booster

  • Michael Halpern

    They are similar but Pegasus is a missile turned into a launch vehicle, and Launcher One is a launch vehicle launched like a missile, missiles don’t care as much about cost, launch vehicles need low cost for customers

  • Dave Salt

    If memory serves, Phantom Express (XS-1) was originally required to demonstrate a fully reusable system capable of flying 10 times to Mach 10 within 10 days. So, unless DARPA has drastically reduced its requirements, they’re well beyond the capabilities of LauncherOne… though something a well designed LauncherTwo should be more than capable of?

  • Zed_WEASEL

    My guess is the folks from Hawthorne will win. Both the Pegasus and Launcher One are magnitudes more expensive than the Hawthorne offering.

    Launcher One is about 9 times more expensive per kilogram lofted to LEO.

    The Pegasus XL is about 42 times more expensive per kilogram lofted to LEO. It is the most non cost effective launch system currently. ($88889 per kg to LEO according to the GAO)

    The above two costs is generated from a GAO report’s charts published a few months ago.

  • As with everything in business, it depends on the market you’re going for. I’ve had things shipped via UPS, via boat from overseas, airmail, overnight shipping and custom carry (my shipment was the only item on the truck). It all depends on what I’m shipping. If these customers and these companies can find each other, it’ll be beneficial for everyone.

  • mattmcc80

    Branson certainly hasn’t lost his knack for marketing timing, given the latest delay of the only Pegasus launch of 2018.

  • Search

    N/A., you also need to look at total launch cost. Wiki says $12M/300kg – so for $12M a small launch customer can be primary and have their payload put where they want it – when they want it. That’s close or just below the cost of a secondary rideshare. This along with the other upcoming small launchers will probably be the end of the notoriously costly Pegasus.

  • Zed_WEASEL

    The GAO stated that Launcher One is $10M/400kg and Pegasus XL is $40M/450kg to LEO as of 2017.

    Which $12M/300kg launcher are you referring to?

  • Search

    use wikipedia

  • Zed_WEASEL

    Ok. Virgin Orbit have got 500 kg to low LEO at 0 degree inclination and 300 kg to SSO for Launcher One according to their 2017 service guide. The LEO payload mass & price number for Launcher One in the GAO report is for a higher LEO orbit than the one referenced by Virgin Orbit.