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> they basically launch Starlink satellites for free as they can reuse launch vehicles other customers already paid off. Yes and no. First, their customers ac
by mabbo 4y ago
> they basically launch Starlink satellites for free as they can reuse launch vehicles other customers already paid off.
Yes and no.
First, their customers actually prefer to use previously-flown boosters now. Insurance premiums on launches are slightly higher for first flights because the booster is 'unproven'. But more importantly, there's still big costs involved. The entire second stage of the rocket is expensive to build and it's not reused. Refurbishing the boosters takes time, people, effort.
Still cheaper than any of their competitors, and they get it "at cost", but we're still in the tens of millions range.
- imron 4y ago> First, their customers actually prefer to use previously-flown boosters now This is hilarious, and also an incredible testament to the work SpaceX has done in moving the rocket industry forward.
- 7e 4y agoAll they had to do was lose a lot of money. Why didn’t anyone else think of that? I see in the article that SpaceX is proudly carrying on their tradition.
- alsodumb 4y agoYou learn from failures, and failures are expensive. I wouldn’t call SpaceX a money loser though.
- Nevermark 4y agoThe US, Russia, Europe and China have burned many multiples of SpaceX expenses to find their space programs obsolete. That is what losses look like. SpaceX spent a fraction of their development expenses, and now sells launch services profitably for a fraction of their costs. SpaceX has been a wealth generating dynamo. Raised estimated $9.9 Billion [1] Worth based on recent funding $127 Billion [2] NASA gave them a boost, with the result that NASA is going to save billions as they continue shifting launches to SpaceX. (Cancelling SLS would result in even more savings.) Any perception of overall economic "losses" for SpaceX, its investors, or its customer-partners, comes from incomplete accounting. [1] https://www.crunchbase.com/organization/space-exploration-technologies/company_financials https://www.crunchbase.com/organization/space-exploration-te... [2] https://spaceexplored.com/2022/05/23/how-much-is-spacex-worth/ https://spaceexplored.com/2022/05/23/how-much-is-spacex-wort...
- barbegal 4y agoDo you have a source for the insurance premiums being higher? I really doubt that is true but Spacex may offer a discount for previously-flown boosters which acts as an incentive.