March 31: The recent large reduction in space launch cost
The cost of space launches has decreased massively in recent years, after around fifty years of fairly steady costs.
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Source: Wendy Whitman Cobb, The Conversation
Published: March 2019
The recent large reduction in space launch cost
The biggest hurdle to space exploration is disappearing. The cost of space launches has decreased massively in recent years, after around fifty years of fairly steady costs. When NASA’s space shuttle was in operation, it cost $1.5 billion to launch 27,500 kilograms to Low Earth Orbit (LEO), or $54,000 per kilogram. Now, a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket costs $62 million to launch 22,800 kilograms to LEO, or just $2,720 per kilogram.
Many other private companies, such as Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin, are vying for prominence in the field, but SpaceX’s exceptionally low launch cost has successfully set it apart from contenders.
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Since it was $2,720 per kilo 2 years ago, is it less today? Great fact by the way.
While price per kg is a useful metric, that price only applies if you use the entire lift capacity of the launch vehicle. A 22,8000 kg satellite costs $62M on a Falcon 9, but if you only launch a 1 kg satellite, it still costs $62M (unless you rideshare of course!)