The author mentions $10000/kg, not per pound. This number is reasonably accurate for recent launch within one order of magnitude. Starlink launches were claime

The author mentions $10000/kg, not per pound. This number is reasonably accurate for recent launch within one order of magnitude. Starlink launches were claimed to cost $35 million for 16 tons, this means SpaceX is still around $2000/kg even internally. This is the lowest cost of "real" missions with payload adapters and deployment mechanisms. Atlas 551 is ~150M for max 18.8tons to orbit so best theoretical price is > $8000/kg. Dividing the space shuttle program cost of $196B by 133 successful launches and a max payload of 23tons you get around $64000/kg.