User:Gokce ink/sandbox

x§ Launch on Demand
A concept proposed by Fuat INCE, based on the proliferation of small satellite launcher developments, or mini launchers, mainly in the USA but also in European countries and Asia, meaning that a launcher for a small satellite should be available at short notice, typically within a few days. As originally proposed by Ince, the launcher should be available at the first or second orbital window opportunity, meaning 24 or 48 hours after the order, weather permitting. This is in contrast with the practice of a decade or two ago when a launch agreement had to be negotiated months in advance, for manufacturing the rocket and making it ready for launch. The second decade of the twenty first century saw an explosive growth in the production of mini, micro, nano and even pico satellites, coming initially from universities and research institutions but soon followed by numerous startups as well as established satellite manufacturers. Dubbed “New Space”, this paradigm shift in space, has also led to the development of small launchers for the thousands of the new arrays of satellites to take their place in orbit. Whereas the legacy launchers of the previous century were large rockets capable of lifting 2-3 tons up to 10 tons or more, the new mini launchers are designed to lift payloads in the several hundred kilograms range, up to about a ton, and at a fraction of the cost. More importantly the mini launcher companies have been gearing up for mass production, some aiming to manufacture in the range of 30 to 50 rockets a year. Such production rates cannot be sustained with any predicted demand for launchers. An inflation and fierce competition will result when most such mini launcher developers reach a technically successful stage, driving the weaker ones out of the market. With the stronger ones remaining, it is conceivable that launchers will be just like a COTS (Commercial Off The Shelf) commodity, available for immediate launch following fueling and satellite mating. Thus Launch on Demand should be a reality later this decade for most altitudes and inclinations.