![]() According to a report by the FAA, vehicle reliability, performance, suitability, and price play the biggest factors when it comes to selecting a launcher. Ultimately, the decision on which launcher to pick is a matter of various factors and will largely depend on the needs of the customer. Dedicated launches give users more control over their payloads, with more flexible launch site, scheduling, and orbital delivery options for their payload. ![]() In most situations this remains the cheapest option, but some customers opt for the dedicated medium or small launches for their payloads. From there, satellites use on-board propulsion or orbital transfer vehicles (OTVs) to reach their desired destination, which may take some time depending on the orbit. Typically, payloads share a ride with multiple customers and are delivered to a general region in LEO that is most convenient for the launcher. This is usually the preferred option for customers with tighter budgets or with payloads that don’t have sensitive orbit or time requirements. Heavy launchers often provide services at a much lower price per kilogram due to multiple fixed operating costs that are amortized over their larger payloads, relative to the increased burden of fixed costs on smaller launchers (see Figure 2.2).
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