Viewing a single comment thread. View all comments

Anthony_Pelchat t1_jdms3rt wrote

Reply to comment by FTR_1077 in Rocket Lab targets $50 million launch price for Neutron rocket to challenge SpaceX’s Falcon 9 by cnbc_official

We don't know all of SpaceX's financials, but we do have very good info on the cost per launch of the Falcon 9. Three execs have spoken about the F9 launches being well under $30m with everything counted. All of these were prior to the massive launch cadence and reuse they started hitting in 2021. Cost are very likely down to $15m-$20m per F9 launch and easily under $25m now.

As for the rounds of funding, we also know what that is for. The vast majority of the funding SpaceX has received came after Starship and Starlink development began. And that is what it is for. Not Falcon 9 which basically had to freeze it's development in 2019 for final crew rating. And if F9 wasn't much cheaper to fly reused, then we would see SpaceX take it easier on launches and they would ramp up production of new boosters as mass production also reduces cost.

9

FTR_1077 t1_jdpg6dm wrote

>We don't know all of SpaceX's financials, but we do have very good info on the cost per launch of the Falcon 9.

We don't, unless you work for their financial department, we can only speculate.

>Three execs have spoken about the F9 launches being well under $30m

And there's no way to confirm that, it's fine if you decide to trust them, but History shows Elon's companies are not know for being truthful.

>As for the rounds of funding, we also know what that is for.

Again, we don't.. unless you work for their financial department, we can only speculate.

>And if F9 wasn't much cheaper to fly reused, then we would see SpaceX take it easier on launches

Why would they do that? The only way SpaceX is getting money is from investors is because they think SpaceX is revolutionizing the industry.. without the reusability gimmick, SpaceX is just another rocket company.

−2

Anthony_Pelchat t1_jdrqpkl wrote

You are making up crap in your head. Look, 3 execs confirmed at multiple different times in multiple different interviews the cost. People have also gone through to verify numbers as best as possible. The Execs have no reason to lie. And reuse is not some gimmick. It's actually making a meaningful difference. Not just price, but cadence.

And yes, we do know the funding reasons. They specifically made a big deal about both Starlink and Starship. Plus we can see with our own eyes the huge production being done. Factories ain't cheap, nor is the huge amount of construction for Starship and the massive number of satellites for Starlink.

And of course common sense clearly shows that reuse is making a huge financial difference. If it wasn't, they wouldn't have reduced the cost of reusable launches, they wouldn't push customers towards reused rockets, and they wouldn't fly Starlink missions entirely on reused boosters. You are effectively accusing SpaceX of being a pyramid scheme when it clearly isn't.

6