Comments on: Smallsat industry considering standardized “launch unit” https://behindtheblack.com/behind-the-black/points-of-information/smallsat-industry-considering-standardized-launch-unit/ Wed, 20 Dec 2017 08:29:10 +0000 hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9.4 By: Localfluff https://behindtheblack.com/behind-the-black/points-of-information/smallsat-industry-considering-standardized-launch-unit/#comment-1031443 Wed, 20 Dec 2017 08:29:10 +0000 http://behindtheblack.com/?p=49312#comment-1031443 Containerization is great for shipping because the same container is used many times on different trucks, ships, cranes. But if I understand this correctly, these launch units would only be used once and the benefit is that they have lower handling costs for a second launch attempt if the first one is cancelled (not just delayed a few weeks). But standards have other advantages. I bet it will be based on dodecahedrons instead of cubes.

A good thing with standards is that there are so many to choose from… Shipping containers come in many different variations, although they can (almost) all be handled with any truck, crane or ship. Concerning reusability. Less developed countries that export mostly bulk cargo, such as ore and rice, import almost all of its containerized industry goods. So their ports are filled with empty containers, waiting for demand to make it worth to ship them oversees empty.

]]> By: Robert Zimmerman https://behindtheblack.com/behind-the-black/points-of-information/smallsat-industry-considering-standardized-launch-unit/#comment-1031396 Wed, 20 Dec 2017 01:16:32 +0000 http://behindtheblack.com/?p=49312#comment-1031396 In reply to Call Me Ishmael.

Whoops. Thank you. I have corrected the post, changing 4 to 10.

]]> By: Call Me Ishmael https://behindtheblack.com/behind-the-black/points-of-information/smallsat-industry-considering-standardized-launch-unit/#comment-1031387 Tue, 19 Dec 2017 23:42:56 +0000 http://behindtheblack.com/?p=49312#comment-1031387 “…a standard-sized satellite structure that is four centimeters to a side.”

Isn’t that 10 cm = four inches?

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