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1.6 billion per shuttle flight, more like 60 million per falcon 9 flight per google. This isn't to say it's a sign that NASA was bloated. Often the first mover
by ianai 5y ago
1.6 billion per shuttle flight, more like 60 million per falcon 9 flight per google.
This isn't to say it's a sign that NASA was bloated. Often the first movers to fast moving tech experience the most costs. That was, in fact, part of the original mission of building a NASA - get the 80% of the original cost down for future development to improve upon.
- The_rationalist 5y agoInteresting but firstly the shuttle would be more comparable to the starship regarding payload size. Secondly the shuttle could have been unmanned hence massively reducing cost and security paranoid costs. Thirdly it's not just that the shuttle navets had higher capacity, in practice their payloads and missions were more complex than routine satellite launch AKA remote repairing hubble and building the ISS Finally had the shuttle been ran by a private company.. Economic efficiency would have been more aligned.
- HWR_14 5y agoKeep in mind the space shuttle had other goals beyond acting as a delivery mechanism to space. Such as the ability to repair satellites (or sabotage/steal satellites).