3 ms·
Maybe this is a very stupid question, but what's your business plan by starting with the second stage? First stage reuse clearly aims to bring down cost and in
by choeger 6y ago
Maybe this is a very stupid question, but what's your business plan by starting with the second stage?
First stage reuse clearly aims to bring down cost and increase cadence/volume of standard launches (people and cargo to ISS, satellites).
But a reusable second stage doesn't offer any of that without a reusable first stage. It will certainly make a cool demonstrator, but who is going to pay for that? If SpaceX wouldn't bet on Starship, one might consider running on top of a modified Falcon 9, but the savings here aren't that big anymore.
So what's the plan? Acquisition by Blue Origin? Special down-mass missions for the military (But they have dreamchaser)?