Viasat’s new broadband satellite could be a total loss (due to antenna hardware issues)
The mission now in peril is thought to be valued at roughly $700 million.
If the insurance company is really on the hook for 420 million, there are probably some interesting discussion going on right now about a cheaper robotic repair mission or so.
A crewed mission won't happen because of cost and physics reasons, but it would be cool to see a Falcon Heavy launch a stripped down Dragon with two crew and a kick stage for a GEO servicing mission.
Considering it costs $67 million just to launch a reusable falcon 9 they’d have to be 100% sure of the outcome to bet on such a thing.
If not you’re $100+ mill out and still have to replace a €420 million satellite..
![[Ars Technica] Viasat’s new broadband satellite could be a total loss](https://lemdro.id/pictrs/image/20b66837-5ffa-4100-9147-733f628c20b3.jpeg?format=webp&thumbnail=256)
![[Ars Technica] Viasat’s new broadband satellite could be a total loss](https://lemmy.world/pictrs/image/b84573d9-c47c-47d8-8976-d754b21e12cf.jpeg?format=webp&thumbnail=256)