Quick wins for a faster PC:
Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →There is no single price to launch a satellite. NASA’s SmallSat Institute lists SpaceX’s Transporter rideshare at a starting price of $350,000 for about 50 kg. That is a launch-service benchmark, not an all-in mission quote. The final price depends on the satellite’s mass and size, its target orbit, how it is deployed, the schedule, and which integration and compliance tasks are included.
What does the $350,000 benchmark cover?
NASA identifies $350,000 for approximately 50 kg as a starting price for SpaceX’s Transporter rideshare program. It is useful as a reference point for a small payload, but it does not establish what a particular customer will pay or which mission-specific services are included. The figure should not be read as the total cost of building, licensing, insuring, launching, and operating a satellite.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Rideshare means that multiple payloads share a launch. They may fly as secondary payloads on a larger mission or on a dedicated rideshare flight. NASA describes rideshare as the lower-price starting option when the customer can accept the shared mission’s orbit and schedule. NASA’s SmallSat Institute launch-vehicle guidance notes that advertised performance can differ from actual performance, so a mission-specific quote is necessary.
Recommended Free Tools
Rideshare or dedicated launch?
| Option | What it offers | Price context | Main trade-off |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rideshare | Multiple payloads share a launch; the primary mission or rideshare manifest shapes the available orbit and schedule. | NASA’s cited example is a $350,000 starting price for about 50 kg on SpaceX Transporter. | Lower-price entry point, but less control over orbit and timing. |
| Dedicated small launch | A launch arranged for one customer or a smaller manifest, with more scope to tailor orbit, timing, or special handling. | NASA says dedicated launches have significantly higher price points than rideshare; the cited guidance does not provide a comparable price. | More control, but smaller manifests and lower launch frequency. |
| Government contract award or ceiling | A procurement arrangement that may cover a portfolio of task orders rather than a single customer’s launch. | Contract maximums are not per-launch prices; see the VADR distinctions below. | Not directly comparable to a rideshare slot or dedicated launch quote. |
When rideshare fits
Rideshare is the natural starting point if the satellite can use the orbit and timing offered by the shared mission. Multiple customers share launch capacity, so a small payload need not buy an entire vehicle. However, fitting the launch’s orbit may still leave a gap between deployment and the spacecraft’s intended operating orbit.
#1 Best Overall
- HOBBY MODEL KIT – Unassembled model packed in an envelope with easy to follow instructions. Ideal for ages 14 and up.
- NO GLUE OR SOLDER NEEDED – Parts can be easily clipped from the metal sheets. Tweezers are the recommended tool for bending and twisting the connection tabs.
- VOYAGER – 1.5 Sheet Model with a moderate difficulty level. Assembled Size: 1.38 x 1.77 x 6.70 inches.
- FROM STEEL SHEETS TO 3D – Pop out the pieces and connect using tabs and holes. Includes illustrated instructions.
- HIGHLY DETAILED ETCHED MODEL – Display your 3D model once completed - collect and build them all.
When dedicated service may be worth the premium
A dedicated small-launch service can better accommodate a specific orbit, faster scheduling, special environmental requirements, rendezvous timing, or a customer that can use nearly all the vehicle’s performance. NASA cautions that this flexibility comes with smaller manifests, lower launch frequency, and significantly higher prices than rideshare. The cited material does not establish a universal dedicated-launch price, so compare mission-specific quotes rather than assuming a standard premium.
What drives the launch price?
Payload mass, volume, and interface
Mass affects how much launch capacity a customer needs, while dimensions and mounting requirements determine whether the spacecraft fits the available interface and deployment hardware. A quote should specify the payload’s permitted envelope, mass, and interface—not just a headline price per kilogram.
Rank #2
- Model Kit
- May Require Paints and Glues to Assemble
- Accurate Scale Model
- Detailed Instructions Provided
- Decals/Transfers Included
Target orbit and onward delivery
The primary mission usually determines a rideshare launch’s approximate orbit. If that is not the satellite’s intended orbit, it may need additional orbital transport or maneuvering to complete the “last mile.” That service adds cost and integration considerations. Ask whether a quote covers deployment only or also any onward transfer to the intended orbit.
Schedule, deployment, and special handling
A shared flight’s manifest and timing constrain customer choice. A need for a specific launch window, deployment sequence, or environmental treatment may narrow the available options and make a tailored service more appropriate. These requirements also affect spacecraft-to-vehicle interfaces, separation systems, dispensers, safety review, and coordination across a multi-customer manifest.
Rank #3
- HOBBY MODEL KIT – Unassembled model packed in an envelope with easy to follow instructions. Ideal for ages 14 and up
- NO GLUE OR SOLDER NEEDED – Parts can be easily clipped from the metal sheets. Tweezers are the recommended tool for bending and twisting the connection tabs
- APOLLO CSM – 3.5 Sheet Model with a challenging difficulty level. Assembled Size: 5.07 L x 2.28 W x 3.45 H inches.
- FROM STEEL SHEETS TO 3D – Pop out the pieces and connect using tabs and holes. Includes illustrated instructions
- HIGHLY DETAILED ETCHED MODEL – Display your 3D model once completed - collect and build them all
Integration and compliance
Launch integration can involve the provider, spacecraft maker and customer, launch range, and sometimes a broker or integrator. NASA’s SmallSat Institute integration guidance identifies possible customer responsibilities including radio-frequency, remote-sensing, and laser-use licenses; orbital-debris information; materials and venting data; and spacecraft-specific models. These obligations need time and budget, but the guidance does not assign them standard prices.
Using an integrator does not transfer every responsibility: NASA states that the spacecraft owner or operator remains responsible for obtaining the appropriate spacecraft licenses. Confirm in writing which party prepares, submits, and tracks each required document, and which tasks are included in the launch quote.
Rank #4
- HOBBY MODEL KIT – Unassembled model packed in an envelope with easy to follow instructions. Ideal for ages 14 and up.
- NO GLUE OR SOLDER NEEDED – Parts can be easily clipped from the metal sheets. Tweezers are the recommended tool for bending and twisting the connection tabs.
- JAMES WEBB SPACE TELESCOPE - 2.75 Sheet Model with a moderate difficulty level. Assembled Size: 4.13 L x 2.75 W x 2.75 H inches. 1:221 Scale. 62 Pieces
- FROM STEEL SHEETS TO 3D – Pop out the pieces and connect using tabs and holes. Includes illustrated instructions.
- HIGHLY DETAILED ETCHED MODEL – Display your 3D model once completed - collect and build them all.
Why NASA VADR contract totals are not launch prices
NASA’s VADR program (Venture-Class Acquisition of Dedicated and Rideshare) is a procurement vehicle, not a public price list for individual launches. NASA’s VADR page describes a $300 million maximum across indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contracts over a five-year ordering period. That figure is a ceiling for the contract portfolio, not a typical mission cost or per-launch price. NASA’s VADR page describes the program as aiming to reduce costs for risk-tolerant science payloads through less agency oversight and greater flexibility in commercial launch management.
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute2Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors3Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesA separate NASA release dated September 2026 describes a StarBurst award with a different ordering period and a $1 billion aggregate maximum. The release does not disclose StarBurst’s task-order price. These totals describe different contract arrangements and should not be combined or treated as a price comparison for a satellite launch. NASA’s StarBurst award release provides the award details.
Best Value
- HOBBY MODEL KIT – Unassembled model packed in an envelope with easy to follow instructions. Ideal for ages 14 and up.
- NO GLUE OR SOLDER NEEDED – Parts can be easily clipped from the metal sheets. Tweezers are the recommended tool for bending and twisting the connection tabs.
- HUBBLE TELESCOPE – 1 Sheet Model with a moderate difficulty level. Assembled Size: 3.00 x 2.00 x 2.50 inches.
- FROM STEEL SHEETS TO 3D – Pop out the pieces and connect using tabs and holes. Includes illustrated instructions.
- HIGHLY DETAILED ETCHED MODEL – Display your 3D model once completed - collect and build them all.
How to compare launch quotes
Ask providers to quote the same payload and mission assumptions. A rideshare slot, dedicated rocket, and government task order are different products and scopes; comparing only their headline figures can produce a misleading result.
- Define the payload: give mass, dimensions, center-of-gravity information, and interface or dispenser needs.
- Specify the destination: identify the intended orbit and ask whether the service deploys there or only into an approximate orbit that requires onward transfer.
- Set schedule and control needs: state acceptable launch windows, deployment requirements, and any environmental or handling constraints.
- Request an itemized scope: ask what launch service, integration, deployment hardware, range coordination, safety-review support, and licensing assistance are included.
- Identify exclusions and assumptions: have the provider list additional services, customer responsibilities, and any conditions that could change the quote.
- Compare mission-specific offers: use provider quotations rather than extrapolating from advertised performance or a starting benchmark.
This approach makes clear whether a lower quote reflects a genuinely cheaper path to the required orbit or simply excludes work another provider has included.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
Free tools Windows power users keep installed
One-click scans. No signup required.
