Since single digit (millions) has been mentioned as a possibility for the F9R I would think that it would not be that hard to price the FH below the F9 expendable... I would have priced it a lot higher because I think the market could take it. But Musk wants to change the market and open it up for new possibilities. So he will lower it as far as he can to make that happens. The question is under what time frame he will lower the prices...
Quote from: symbios on 08/07/2014 03:41 pmSince single digit (millions) has been mentioned as a possibility for the F9R I would think that it would not be that hard to price the FH below the F9 expendable... I would have priced it a lot higher because I think the market could take it. But Musk wants to change the market and open it up for new possibilities. So he will lower it as far as he can to make that happens. The question is under what time frame he will lower the prices...I'm not sure that the launch cost for the F9R will start out in the single digit millions, as SpaceX will want to recoop their manufacturing costs on that rocket as quickly as possible. Of course, after the F9R has a proven track record of relaunches, I have little doubt that they should be able to bring the cost down to about where you stated.
If they are providing a quality product and are efficient enough to beat the competitors there is no reason, in fact it would be fiscally irresponsible to go as cheap as possible. SpaceX needs cash flow and profit like all companies, they've spent hundreds of millions on development and they have huge plans. That will never be funded with sub 10 million dollar launches.
If they are providing a quality product and are efficient enough to beat the competitors there is no reason, in fact it would be fiscally irresponsible to go as cheap as possible. SpaceX needs cash flow and profit like all companies, they've spent hundreds of millions on development and they have huge plans. That will never be funded with sub 10 million dollar launches. If a competitor improves and gets cheaper than lower your price but not until you have too.<snipped>
Quote from: wannamoonbase on 08/07/2014 07:21 pmIf they are providing a quality product and are efficient enough to beat the competitors there is no reason, in fact it would be fiscally irresponsible to go as cheap as possible. SpaceX needs cash flow and profit like all companies, they've spent hundreds of millions on development and they have huge plans. That will never be funded with sub 10 million dollar launches. If a competitor improves and gets cheaper than lower your price but not until you have too.<snipped>Perhaps even smarter is at some point to start a special program offering deeply discounted launches to a few customers that are in some sort of startup mode. That way you help accelerate new business models while harvesting as much revenue from existing business.Make this public and smaller/risky businesses might try to form their businesses around it. All SpaceX has to do is sell a few launches at cost for the lottery ticket of maybe eventually getting a new customer sector (who would eventually pay full freight.)
They recently raised their prices and I think they could raise their prices more once F9 is proven if they are still cheap enough to be awarded launches. Early F9R launches will likely be a reduced price because of uncertainty with previously flown vehicles. But that eventually it may not be much different than F9 prices.
Hi. First time poster, long time lurker. I've done a search for my query but can't seem to find anything, so forgive me if this has already been speculated on, (because I'm sure it has), but what do you think of the idea that the first FH demonstration flight will be in the reusable configuration? That might account for its continued slippage to 2015 with no actual booked flight in sight. Just imagine: they get the barge landing down and relaunch a falcon 9 core early 2015, and then, a few months later they fly an FHR then refly it again just to show they can. In one go America gets their heaviest lift vehicle since Saturn V and, oh yeah, its reusable. And suddenly ULA is pretty much obsolete. Its just the sort of big, press-making opportunity Musk loves. What do you think?