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They already have a buyer, though there is some dispute between SpaceX and them about the level of discount. I think 33% off was what SpaceX is offering, they w
by generj 10y ago
They already have a buyer, though there is some dispute between SpaceX and them about the level of discount. I think 33% off was what SpaceX is offering, they want more on the range of 50% off.
The truly hard part for SpaceX has been getting tthe insurance providers onbaord.
- walrus01 10y agoI'd be surprised if any insurer would touch the first few re-uses of a first stage, considering how risk averse they are... For the largest commercial market segment which is geostationary telecom satellites in the 1900 to 6000 kilogram size range, they only insure well known and proven launch vehicles. I could see the first stage re-use being used for a government launch of a geostationary weather satellite or similar, or perhaps a NASA funded development project like launching a spare TDRS-type satellite, but I'd be surprised to see a commercial client like Intelsat, AsiaSat, Eutelsat, Arabsat, etc.
- greglindahl 10y agoActually it's more the reverse: the insurance market is pretty competitive, and most GEO comsats are purchased by a small number of companies that launch a lot. That leaves a lot of room for pressure on an insurer.
- jtchang 10y agoYou'd be surprised at what insurers are willing to insure. It just depends on what price. Just because there is no specific data about reusable rockets doesn't mean it can't be insured based on other factors.
- makomk 10y agoDepending on the price of insurance, launching with a reused rocket could be more expensive than a new one. The discount that SpaceX is offering is relatively small compared to the cost of replacing a satellite, if I recall correctly.
- sgc 10y agoI would bet there are a number of insurers willing to do so, if only to get their foot in the door for suture launches. They may require some sort of data sharing to allow them to develop actuarial models, which would then mean they could offer truly competitive insurance rates...