So we do expect to see a steady reduction in prices, and we already have reduced prices from where they were, from about $60 million to about $50 million for a re-flown booster.
Quote from: Lars-J on 05/17/2018 07:07 pmEd, that was from the Elon Musk Q&A with reporters before the block 5 launch, here is a transcript: https://gist.github.com/theinternetftw/5ba82bd5f4099934fa0556b9d09c123eQuote So we do expect to see a steady reduction in prices, and we already have reduced prices from where they were, from about $60 million to about $50 million for a re-flown booster. Caleb Henry of Space News, who wrote the article I referenced, actually asked the question that triggered this answer from Elon, yet Caleb interpreted it as a early-user discount rather than an actual long-term, official price reduction. If reuse does reduce costs, I would expect to see an official price reduction for all launches. - Ed Kyle
Ed, that was from the Elon Musk Q&A with reporters before the block 5 launch, here is a transcript: https://gist.github.com/theinternetftw/5ba82bd5f4099934fa0556b9d09c123eQuote So we do expect to see a steady reduction in prices, and we already have reduced prices from where they were, from about $60 million to about $50 million for a re-flown booster.
10 reuses of the same block 5 booster along with 24hr turnaround set for 2019 is very impressive. They’ll prove the 10x and refurb plan long before they actually need it (if they ever do).Even if he doesn’t agree with it as strategy, Elon is building a huge (candy filled) moat around the launch business.
Am wondering about the claim in this article that "Due to the Block 5’s reusability, SpaceX has lowered the standard price of a Falcon 9 launch from $62 million to about $50 million."According to Space News, the reduction was "discounts to some early customers of Falcon 9 rockets with used first stages to ease their acceptance". http://spacenews.com/spacex-targeting-24-hour-turnaround-in-2019-full-reusability-still-in-the-works/Does NSF have a source for what appears to be a claim that "SpaceX has lowered the standard price" going forward? The SpaceX web site still lists the $62 million price. - Ed Kyle
SpaceX has given discounts to some early customers of Falcon 9 rockets with used first stages to ease their acceptance, particularly among risk-averse satellite operators who might otherwise be reluctant to launch a spacecraft costing $100 million or more on rocket booster already subjected to the rigors of launch and landing.Musk said SpaceX lowered prices from “about $60 million to about $50 million for a reflown booster,” and expects “to see a steady reduction in prices” going forward.
Quote from: edkyle99 on 05/17/2018 07:32 pmQuote from: Lars-J on 05/17/2018 07:07 pmEd, that was from the Elon Musk Q&A with reporters before the block 5 launch, here is a transcript: https://gist.github.com/theinternetftw/5ba82bd5f4099934fa0556b9d09c123eQuote So we do expect to see a steady reduction in prices, and we already have reduced prices from where they were, from about $60 million to about $50 million for a re-flown booster. Caleb Henry of Space News, who wrote the article I referenced, actually asked the question that triggered this answer from Elon, yet Caleb interpreted it as a early-user discount rather than an actual long-term, official price reduction. If reuse does reduce costs, I would expect to see an official price reduction for all launches. - Ed KyleThat might be a reasonable expectation. FYI, the full question and answer looked like this:Caleb Henry, SpaceNews: Hey Elon. Question about the price range that you talked about long term for the Falcon 9. You mentioned five to six million dollars. When do you project being able to provide those prices?Elon Musk: Yeah. I do want to emphasize that those are long term marginal cost of flight. So those aren't prices, they're margin cost of flight, long term. Meaning it would take, I don't know, three years or so to get there. And then we are going to need to, we still have a bunch of fixed costs to cover, that need to be divided over that number of flights. And we need to recover the development costs of recovery. And pay for BFR. And pay for the Starlink constellation. So we do expect to see a steady reduction in prices, and we already have reduced prices from where they were, from about $60 million to about $50 million for a re-flown booster. ...(taken from this transcript)
Quote from: edkyle99 on 05/17/2018 07:32 pm(snip)If reuse does reduce costs, I would expect to see an official price reduction for all launches. - Ed KyleThat might be a reasonable expectation. FYI, the full question and answer looked like this:Caleb Henry, SpaceNews: Hey Elon. Question about the price range that you talked about long term for the Falcon 9. You mentioned five to six million dollars. When do you project being able to provide those prices?Elon Musk: Yeah. I do want to emphasize that those are long term marginal cost of flight. So those aren't prices, they're margin cost of flight, long term. Meaning it would take, I don't know, three years or so to get there. And then we are going to need to, we still have a bunch of fixed costs to cover, that need to be divided over that number of flights. And we need to recover the development costs of recovery. And pay for BFR. And pay for the Starlink constellation. So we do expect to see a steady reduction in prices, and we already have reduced prices from where they were, from about $60 million to about $50 million for a re-flown booster. ...(taken from this transcript)
(snip)If reuse does reduce costs, I would expect to see an official price reduction for all launches. - Ed Kyle
Quote from: abaddon on 05/17/2018 08:14 pmThere is no ambiguity or conflict here, I do not believe your interpretation is correct.Screen capture from just now. - Ed Kyle
There is no ambiguity or conflict here, I do not believe your interpretation is correct.
Quote from: Ludus on 05/17/2018 07:51 pm10 reuses of the same block 5 booster along with 24hr turnaround set for 2019 is very impressive. They’ll prove the 10x and refurb plan long before they actually need it (if they ever do).Even if he doesn’t agree with it as strategy, Elon is building a huge (candy filled) moat around the launch business.They've already created a massive barrier to entry and this isn't going to make it any easier.Ross.
Twenty-five tons to LEO. Isn't that new?
Quote from: aero on 05/17/2018 08:32 pmTwenty-five tons to LEO. Isn't that new?Certainly would be. But where do you find that referenced?
Quote from: RedLineTrain on 05/17/2018 08:46 pmQuote from: aero on 05/17/2018 08:32 pmTwenty-five tons to LEO. Isn't that new?Certainly would be. But where do you find that referenced?Here!http://www.spacex.com/falcon9