SpaceX isn’t getting subsidized, and it’s costs were a fraction of other commercial providers even before reuse. It’s because Elon understands more about the economics of space launches than anyone, and he focused them on manufacturing efficiencies.
Liquid engines are far more flexible that solid, and due to the Falcon 9 design using nine engine, SpaceX has built over 500 Merlin engines. That gave them an assembly line approach instead of a hand building approach, which led to both massive cost reductions, and continuous improvement processes.
That nine engine design was also key to mastering retro-propulsion, because it allows for the deep throttling required.
And if you don’t understand the quantum leap reusability is, you don’t have any understanding of launch economics. Solid rockets will never be economic because they aren’t reusable. Every launch, SLS is going destroy $500M of hand built custom rocket parts (ignoring another couple billion in development and operating costs).
If the BFR cost $500M each, and can fly 100 tines with only minor refurbishment, that’s only $5M per launch. With refurb, operating and fuel costs, total launch cost would be near $10M, for a cargo capacity 59% bigger than the SLS.
Reusability brings flight costs close to fuel costs, which are trivial. The Saturn V cargo cost was about $10;000 per pound, the Shuttle $40,000 per pound, commercial rockets were around $5,000-$10,000 per pound. The Falcon 9 is under $1,500 per pound, the Falcon Heavy under $1,000 per pound, and if the BFR concept works it will cost between $20-$50 per pound.
Liquid engines are far more flexible that solid, and due to the Falcon 9 design using nine engine, SpaceX has built over 500 Merlin engines. That gave them an assembly line approach instead of a hand building approach, which led to both massive cost reductions, and continuous improvement processes.
That nine engine design was also key to mastering retro-propulsion, because it allows for the deep throttling required.
And if you don’t understand the quantum leap reusability is, you don’t have any understanding of launch economics. Solid rockets will never be economic because they aren’t reusable. Every launch, SLS is going destroy $500M of hand built custom rocket parts (ignoring another couple billion in development and operating costs).
If the BFR cost $500M each, and can fly 100 tines with only minor refurbishment, that’s only $5M per launch. With refurb, operating and fuel costs, total launch cost would be near $10M, for a cargo capacity 59% bigger than the SLS.
Reusability brings flight costs close to fuel costs, which are trivial. The Saturn V cargo cost was about $10;000 per pound, the Shuttle $40,000 per pound, commercial rockets were around $5,000-$10,000 per pound. The Falcon 9 is under $1,500 per pound, the Falcon Heavy under $1,000 per pound, and if the BFR concept works it will cost between $20-$50 per pound.