REM%MIT-MC@sri-unix.UUCP (03/06/84)
From: Robert Elton Maas <REM @ MIT-MC>
NASA has long argued it would be cheaper to service satellites in
space than to simply abandon them if something goes wrong. Solar Max
cost about $80 million to build, but replacing it would cost $200
million or more.
I find these figures hard to believe. True inflation would increase the
current cost compared to the cost then, but not by a factor of 2.5
since it was built only a few years ago. I'd believe a factor of 1.5.
But since the design work wouldn't have to be redone, only the actual
fabrication&testing, much of the cost could be saved, probably more
than offsetting inflation. So what's the justification for the $200
million figure??