By Valerie Skarupa
In the ever-shifting world of launch, satellite owners and operators always must pay attention to the latest market conditions and make the best possible decisions while planning for a launch in the future. This is a difficult kind of planning, as there are so many variables in play. There is always uncertainty around when a spacecraft will be ready to launch-, and waiting until a satellite is finished before booking means launch can still be years away. That’s why our LaunchLock service is the solution that mitigates risk while securing a launch when you need it.
We know it well…leaders and program managers are pressed to perfectly align contracts and expenditures with development success, while holding cashflow in reserve as long as possible. This often translates to addressing launch after it’s too late
Launch capacity has been at a premium for years – but the current market is even tougher than before. With limited launch vehicles available,the launch vehicles with regular cadence are fully booked, making locking in your launch early even more important. Also, current destinations are limited, and more customers are looking for things beyond the typical LEO rideshare model. On the plus side, launch schedules have become more reliable and costs are more predictable- but securing one that aligns with program requirements remains a challenge. SEOPS is one of the few capacity providers that has enough future launches secured that we can offer certainty of a launch and the flexibility to move to other launches when the inevitable changes in circumstances happen.
One of the primary reasons that a spacecraft owner is forced to miss a booked launch is that the spacecraft isn’t ready. The reasons for this are too many to list – but today, it can be harder than ever to predict delays happening due to supply chain issues for hardware or tariffs associated with them. The red tape for licensing can be another hurdle, as are finding appropriate testing facilities and transportation logistics for spacecraft.
With LaunchLock, you’re locking in the capacity, but not the schedule. With a minimal downpayment, you know you’ll have a launch ready to go when you are. You have the peace of mind knowing you’re not scrambling to make an unrealistic deadline, and customers and investors have the assurance that your mission is going to happen.
SEOPS remains focused on customer needs, and not only can we reschedule customers to later launches when they need, we can often also move them up to sooner launches as space becomes available. We’ve already done this for numerous customers. This is flexibility no other launch services organization can offer.
If you’re looking to book a future launch, lock it in now, with zero risk. LaunchLock is the best guarantee of timely mission success in a very fluid industry environment.