threelonmusketeers comments on [Eric Berger] Analysts find looming launch crisis is "more severe" than anticipated

[–] threelonmusketeers@sh.itjust.works [S] 2 points 6 days ago (1 child)

Falcon 9 was going to make space so cheap

Falcon 9 was only ever going to make space as cheap as its next-cheapest competitor. It's been ten years since the first booster landings, and no other reusable rocket has achieved a cadence anywhere close that of Falcon 9.

Has Falcon been a loss leader for spacex?

I highly doubt it. With minimal downward pressure on launch price from the rest of the market, they should have been able to make significant profit with every launch. I suspect this has been pivotal in bankrolling Starship development.

If it was such a cheap system due to reusability why are they scrapping it?

Because Starship has the potential to be even cheaper. Falcon 9 still throws away an upper stage with every launch.

With such a “work horse” as SS why wouldn’t they make it accomodate the widest maker possible?

I think Starlink revenue has now surpassed (or is projected to surpass) all other revenue streams, so Starlink has become. SpaceX have essentially become their own "widest market".

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[–] Peppycito@sh.itjust.works 1 point 5 days ago

no other reusable rocket has achieved a cadence anywhere close that of Falcon 9.

But the whole point of the cadence was that it was necessary for all the startups that were going to start needing launch services. Without demand a non reusable rocket that doesn't require a weekly launch, landing barge operation and booster refurbish is perhaps cheaper and makes better business sense. I don't have sources, do you?

I highly doubt it. ^we're ^both ^guessing With minimal downward pressure on launch price from the rest of the market, they should have been able to make significant profit with every launch. I suspect this has been pivotal in bankrolling Starship development.

SpaceX have essentially become their own "widest market".

That sounds like a bazillion dollar business to me, when you're your own best customer.

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