>The test article isn't even capable of reaching orbit, or returning from orbit, or landing yet. >It's also different from reusable boosters as developed by Sp

>The test article isn't even capable of reaching orbit, or returning from orbit, or landing yet. >It's also different from reusable boosters as developed by SpaceX ... Those can be more expensive than the actual plane You misunderstand. The capabilities ISRO demonstrated today are for developing a reusable first stage (booster), not a reusable second stage. >The solid boosters were also recovered, but since they were just steel tubes, they didn't require much refurbishment They also contained thrust vectoring equipment on the rear. All those actuators, controllers, etc had to be completely disassembled, cleaned, inspected, reassembled, and recertified after being fished out of the ocean. Like the Shuttle, the SRBs were more expensive to refurbish than an expendable design would have been. http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/0094576579900067 http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/00945765799...