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Certainly in the long term they won't be able to enjoy their margins. However, they are already one of the lowest cost launch providers available at the moment
by ncallaway 10y ago
Certainly in the long term they won't be able to enjoy their margins.
However, they are already one of the lowest cost launch providers available at the moment. Others have work to do just to catch up with SpaceX today. And _nobody_ is just around the corner on reusability. I don't know of any other provider that will have a reusable launch in the next 3 years.
Even then, those other providers will just be dipping their toes in reusability.
I suspect, if reusability starts going well for them SpaceX will have 4-6 years to enjoy the benefits of being the only major provider on the market with a reusable first stage booster. It won't last forever, but there are some good times coming up for them in the near-term if they can keep things running smoothly.
- di4na 10y agoUnder 5 years, Ariane VI could do it probably. 3 years, i don't think so.
- marktangotango 10y agoThe stakes are colossal too. Ultimately we're talking about owning transport infrastructure for the solar system. I think Bezos see's it this way too. Musk is all about settling gravity wells, while Bezo's is about O'Neil type space colonies. Interesting dichotomy.