Launch Options for Satellites From 300 kg: XL Rideshare Plates, Small Launchers and 2027 Prices

A satellite of 300 kg or more has three realistic routes to orbit: an XL or full rideshare plate on a Falcon 9, a dedicated or shared flight on a small launcher in the 600 to 1,300 kg class, or a medium launcher such as Vega C or PSLV. On the SpaceX rideshare program, the public price configuration lists $7,500 per kg for the 2027 payment year and a maximum of 831 kg per port, so a 300 kg satellite costs $2,250,000 and an 800 kg satellite $6,000,000 for the launch alone. Small launchers such as Isar Aerospace Spectrum (700 kg to SSO) and Firefly Alpha (630 kg to a 500 km SSO) can carry a satellite of this size on its own, but none of them publishes a price. This guide sorts the launch options for satellites from 300 kg by what the satellite actually needs: plate, interface, orbit, date and budget. All figures were checked against the providers' own sources on 30 October 2026.

Why 300 kg is a turning point

Below 300 kg, most satellites share a plate or a small launcher with many others. From 300 kg the rules of the market change in three ways:

The largest SpaceX plates take over: the price configuration of the SpaceX rideshare booking system lists a minimum spend mass of 300 kg for an XL plate and a maximum mass of 831 kg for both the full plate and the XL plate. A satellite in this class lands exactly in the range of the biggest standard positions.
There is a ceiling per port: the booking tool caps the priced mass at 831 kg and tells customers: "The max mass per port is 831kg. If additional mass is required, please contact rideshare@spacex.com." Above that mass there is no self-service price.
You become the main customer of a small launcher: a 450 kg satellite would use about two thirds of the 700 kg that Spectrum lists to SSO, and about 70 percent of the 630 kg that Alpha lists to a 500 km SSO (our own calculation). At that point the mission is effectively planned around you.

For the general trade-offs, see rideshare vs dedicated launch for small satellites; for lighter satellites, the launch options for 100 to 200 kg satellites.

Launch options from 300 kg at a glance

Published capacity, price and status as of 30 October 2026, from the providers' own sources:

SpaceX rideshare (Falcon 9): $7,000 per kg (2026) and $7,500 per kg (2027); XL plate minimum 300 kg, full and XL plate maximum 831 kg; two sun-synchronous flights listed with open capacity, NET June 2027 and NET October 2027, both 500 to 600 km.
SEOPS Waymaker (rideshare on Falcon 9): XL Volume class with 300 kg included, plus a Cake Topper (CT) position and bridged XL configurations after technical review; Waymaker-1 to a mid-inclination orbit at about 500 km, early 2028; Waymaker-2 to SSO at about 500 km, late 2028. No public price.
Isar Aerospace Spectrum: 1,000 kg to LEO and 700 kg to SSO; reached orbit on its second flight from Andøya, Norway, on 5 September 2026. No public price.
Firefly Alpha: 1,030 kg to a 300 km LEO and 630 kg to a 500 km SSO; dedicated launches and rideshare missions. No public price.
RFA One: 1,300 kg to a 500 km SSO according to Rocket Factory Augsburg; no orbital flight yet. No public price.
Vega C (Avio): up to 2,300 kg to LEO, with SSMS and other adapters for dual and multiple launches. No public price.
PSLV (ISRO, sold through NSIL): up to 1,750 kg to a 600 km sun-synchronous polar orbit; an expert committee was reviewing a vehicle anomaly according to ISRO's update of 25 February 2026. No public price.
Rocket Lab Neutron: medium-lift rocket in final development, first launch to follow delivery to the pad. No public price.

Only SpaceX publishes a price per kilogram, and only up to 831 kg. For every other route, and for any satellite above that mass, you need a quote.

Rideshare on SpaceX: full plate or XL plate

The SpaceX Rideshare Payload User's Guide (Version 11, August 2026) defines two layouts. In the hexagon configuration there are quarter, half and full plates; in the cube configuration, which SpaceX describes as having a lower profile, there are half XL and XL plates. For a satellite from 300 kg, three positions matter:

Half plate: 8 inch or 15 inch circular interfaces and 4-point interfaces 16 inches wide. The price configuration lists a maximum mass of 452 kg and a minimum spend mass of 100 kg. A compact satellite of up to 452 kg on one of these interfaces can still fly here.
Full plate: 24 inch interfaces and other 4-point interfaces; the version with intrusion also takes a 15 inch interface on a 15 to 24 inch cone adapter. Maximum mass 831 kg, minimum spend mass 200 kg.
XL plate: the same interface families as the full plate, with the volume of the cube configuration. Maximum mass 831 kg, minimum spend mass 300 kg.

The booking tool also maps the interface to a minimum: a 24 inch interface is priced at least like an XL plate, so at least 300 kg, and a 15 inch interface at least like a full plate. For a satellite heavier than 300 kg, these minimums no longer change the price. What decides between full and XL is volume: the user's guide draws the keep-in volumes in Appendix A, and customers verify the fit themselves with their CAD model, including the separation system.

What a SpaceX rideshare costs from 300 kg

Multiplying the official price per kg by the mass gives these launch prices for mass only (our own calculation from the price configuration, retrieved on 30 October 2026):

300 kg: $2,100,000 (2026 payment year), $2,250,000 (2027)
450 kg: $3,150,000 (2026), $3,375,000 (2027)
600 kg: $4,200,000 (2026), $4,500,000 (2027)
831 kg: $5,817,000 (2026), $6,232,500 (2027)

Which year applies depends on how you pay. The booking tool prices a booking with the current year if you pay up front and with the launch year otherwise. For a 600 kg satellite booked now for a 2027 flight, the difference between the two is $300,000. The full table from 2023 to 2027 and the payment year rule are explained in our article on the SpaceX rideshare price per kg by year.

Options come on top. At 2027 prices, the price configuration lists a 15 inch separation system at $451,000 and a 24 inch system at $692,600, and $54,250 if the satellite needs fueling at the launch site, including one additional processing day. SpaceX also offers launch-only insurance, but the maximum insurable amount is $2 million, which covers only part of the launch price in this class.

When the next SpaceX rideshare flights leave

The SpaceX booking system lists two flights with open capacity on 30 October 2026: an SSO flight with a target date of June 2027 and one with a target date of October 2027, both at 500 to 600 km and SSO plus or minus 0.1 degrees. No flight to a mid-inclination orbit is listed. A satellite from 300 kg that needs a different orbit should look at the dedicated options below or at an orbital transfer vehicle.

Above 831 kg and integrator positions

For a satellite heavier than one port allows, the SpaceX tool points to the rideshare team rather than giving a price. Rideshare integrators offer another route. SEOPS sells its Waymaker missions in Half, Full and XL Volume classes, with 300 kg included in the XL class, and a Cake Topper position that it describes as configurable for a single, dual or tri payload, subject to compatibility. SEOPS also lists bridged XL configurations for an extended vertical envelope, which require a technical review, and an evaluation of moderate non-standard requirements. According to SEOPS, Waymaker-1 is a rideshare mission on a SpaceX Falcon 9, and capacity is reserved only once a Launch Services Agreement is signed.

For other integrators and what they add on top of the launch, see our comparison of launch brokers and rideshare integrators.

Small launchers that can carry 300 to 1,000 kg alone

A small launcher gives you more control over orbit and date. From 300 kg, the satellite is usually the main payload, which can make a dedicated flight worth more than its higher price per kilogram.

Isar Aerospace Spectrum

Isar Aerospace lists Spectrum with 1,000 kg to LEO and 700 kg to SSO, a length of 28 m and a diameter of 2 m. Its second flight reached orbit from Andøya in Norway on 5 September 2026, the first orbital launch from continental Europe. For a European operator whose funding requires a European launcher, Spectrum is the option in this class with a flight to orbit; our Spectrum guide covers booking. See Spectrum on Carrier Space.

Firefly Alpha

Firefly lists Alpha with 1,030 kg to a 300 km LEO, 630 kg to a 500 km SSO and a fairing 5 m high and 2.2 m in diameter. Firefly says Alpha "supports dedicated launches and rideshare missions" and launches from its US East and West Coast sites and, internationally, from sites including the Esrange Space Center in Sweden. See Alpha on Carrier Space.

RFA One

Rocket Factory Augsburg lists RFA One with 1,300 kg to a 500 km SSO, 850 kg to a 2,000 km polar orbit and 450 kg to GTO, with the Redshift third stage and 8, 15 or 24 inch ports for rideshare. The rocket has not yet flown to orbit; its first flights are planned from SaxaVord Spaceport on the Shetland Islands. Details are in our RFA One guide. See RFA One on Carrier Space.

Rocket Lab Electron, with 300 kg to LEO, sits at the lower edge of this class and suits only the lightest satellites in it.

Medium launchers for heavier satellites

Vega C

Avio lists Vega C with up to 2,300 kg to LEO and says it uses the SSMS adapters and other adapters for dual and multiple launches, with the AVUM+ upper stage able to release payloads into different orbits. On flight VV30 on 15 September 2026, Vega C launched Sentinel-3C and ESA's FLEX together. Our Vega C guide lists every flight so far. See Vega C on Carrier Space.

PSLV

ISRO states that PSLV "can take up to 1,750 kg of payload to Sun-Synchronous Polar Orbits of 600 km altitude" and 1,425 kg to sub-GTO. In an update on 25 February 2026, ISRO wrote that a national level expert committee was reviewing the reason for an anomaly in the PSLV vehicle. Before you plan a PSLV launch, ask NSIL for the current schedule; our guide to Indian launch options also covers export rules. See PSLV on Carrier Space.

Rocket Lab Neutron and a full Falcon 9

Rocket Lab's Neutron is a reusable medium-lift rocket that had not flown by October 2026; in August 2026 Rocket Lab said it was targeting delivery of the rocket to its pad in Virginia in the fourth quarter of 2026, with the first launch to follow. Details are in our Neutron guide. A full Falcon 9 is the obvious option for constellation batches or very heavy single satellites. SpaceX's Capabilities and Services document, which listed a Falcon 9 price, could not be retrieved on 30 October 2026 (the address returned "The requested content does not exist"), so we do not quote a price for a dedicated Falcon 9 here. Background on what was published earlier is in our article on Falcon 9 launch cost.

Worked example: a 450 kg Earth observation satellite

Take an operator with a 450 kg satellite on a 24 inch interface that needs a sun-synchronous orbit at about 550 km, uses a propulsion system that must be fueled at the launch site and will be ready to ship in spring 2027. The following figures are our own calculation from SpaceX's public price configuration (2027 payment year) and user's guide:

Plate: a 24 inch interface needs a full or XL plate. The XL minimum of 300 kg does not apply because the satellite is heavier.
Launch price: 450 kg times $7,500 per kg is $3,375,000.
Separation system: a SpaceX 24 inch system costs $692,600 at 2027 prices.
Fueling: $54,250 for the fueling option with one extra processing day.
Total with SpaceX options: $4,121,850, or about $9,160 per kg.
Date: SpaceX's typical rideshare schedule starts with mission analysis inputs about eight months before launch, and a separation system bought from SpaceX needs at least six months of lead time. The October 2027 SSO flight fits a satellite that is ready in spring 2027.
If the interface changes: on a 15 inch interface and within the half plate volume, the same 450 kg satellite could fly on a half plate (maximum 452 kg) at the same mass price, with a 15 inch system at $451,000. Volume, not mass, decides.

Alternatives to quote on the same basis: a dedicated Spectrum flight (450 kg is about 64 percent of its 700 kg SSO figure) or a dedicated Alpha flight (about 71 percent of 630 kg to a 500 km SSO), which let you choose the exact altitude and local time; a Vega C co-passenger position; and the SEOPS Waymaker-2 XL class to SSO in late 2028. None of these publishes a price, so request offers with the same inputs: mass with margin, interface, target orbit, earliest launch date, fueling and whether you bring your own separation system.

How to choose: five questions

How exact must your orbit be? On a rideshare you accept the mission orbit, for example 500 to 600 km SSO on the open SpaceX flights. If you need a specific altitude, local time or inclination, a dedicated small launcher may be worth the higher price.
What is your mass with margin? Every additional kilogram costs the full price per kg on SpaceX, and 831 kg is the ceiling per port. If your satellite may grow past that, start talks early with SpaceX, an integrator or a dedicated provider.
What is your interface and volume? 8 and 15 inch interfaces fit half plates up to 452 kg; 24 inch needs a full or XL plate. Check the keep-in volumes in Appendix A of the user's guide.
Does your funding require a European launch? Spectrum and Vega C are the European options in this class that have reached orbit. Our guides to the ESA Flight Ticket Initiative and the European Launcher Challenge explain the programmes.
How much schedule risk can you carry? New launchers and vehicles returning to flight carry more schedule risk than an established rideshare line. Ask each provider how it handles a delay on its side and on yours, and read our guide to launch delays.

Frequently asked questions

How much does it cost to launch a 300 kg satellite?

On the SpaceX rideshare program, the public price configuration lists $7,500 per kg for the 2027 payment year, so a 300 kg satellite costs $2,250,000 for the launch alone, or $2,100,000 at 2026 prices. A separation system, fueling and adapters cost extra. Other providers do not publish prices.

What is the maximum mass for a SpaceX rideshare?

The booking tool lists 831 kg as the maximum for the full plate and the XL plate, 452 kg for the half plate and 300 kg for the quarter plate. Above 831 kg the tool says to contact rideshare@spacex.com.

Which rockets can launch a 500 kg satellite on its own?

Isar Aerospace Spectrum (700 kg to SSO), Firefly Alpha (630 kg to a 500 km SSO), Vega C (up to 2,300 kg to LEO) and PSLV (up to 1,750 kg to a 600 km SSO) all list enough capacity. RFA One lists 1,300 kg to a 500 km SSO but has not yet flown to orbit.

Is an XL plate or a full plate better for a heavy satellite?

Both take up to 831 kg and the same interface families. The XL plate sits in the lower-profile cube configuration and has a 300 kg minimum spend mass, the full plate a 200 kg minimum. For a satellite above 300 kg the price is the same; the keep-in volume decides.

How much does a 24 inch separation system cost on SpaceX rideshare?

$692,600 at 2027 prices and $629,600 at 2026 prices, according to the SpaceX price configuration. SpaceX says a separation system bought through SpaceX needs at least six months of lead time.

Does SpaceX publish the price of a dedicated Falcon 9?

SpaceX's Capabilities and Services document listed a Falcon 9 price in the past, but the document could not be retrieved on 30 October 2026. For a dedicated launch, ask SpaceX sales directly.

Compare launch options from 300 kg on Carrier Space

For a satellite from 300 kg, the public SpaceX price is a useful reference, but the dedicated options that may fit your orbit better all quote on request. On Carrier Space you can compare Spectrum, Alpha, Vega C, Falcon 9 and other launch vehicles side by side in the vehicle comparison, together with providers and brokers and scheduled missions, with consistent data checked weekly. Send one request with your satellite's mass, interface, target orbit and earliest launch date to up to five providers and brokers you pick. Carrier Space checks it and forwards it anonymously, and the indicative offers come back in one comparable view. The request is free for customers.

Sources

Cover image: Technicians inspect NASA's Landsat Data Continuity Mission satellite at the Astrotech processing facility at Vandenberg Air Force Base, California, on 21 December 2012. Credit: NASA (KSC-2012-6523).