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> The problem is that reducing spacex’s cost doesn’t reduce the customer’s cost… SpaceX launches are way cheaper than competitors already. More competition wo
by colechristensen 4y ago
> The problem is that reducing spacex’s cost doesn’t reduce the customer’s cost…
SpaceX launches are way cheaper than competitors already. More competition would drive costs further down but it very much already exists.
A SpaceX launch costs 5% per kg of what a space shuttle launch cost. A 95% discount is pretty far away from “doesn’t reduce customers cost”.
- DangitBobby 4y agoHow does it compare to the cost of a comparable rocket launch, ie, one without the known-to-be-wasteful [1] shuttle attachment? 1. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Criticism_of_the_Space_Shuttle_program https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Criticism_of_the_Space_Shutt...
- colechristensen 4y agoSpaceX got contracts to launch a couple of GPS satellites for ~$80 and ~$90 million, compatible ULA launches were in the military budget for ~$420 million. It’s not like buying a bus ticket so pricing is complex and difficult to compare but spacex is all around dramatically cheaper than the competition.