Home / Technology / Musk Vows $100/kg Orbit Cost with Reusable Starship
Musk Vows $100/kg Orbit Cost with Reusable Starship
7 Nov
Summary
- Elon Musk predicts orbital delivery cost under $100 per kilogram.
- Starship system is designed for complete reusability.
- SpaceX aims for hourly launches of Super Heavy boosters.
US entrepreneur Elon Musk has projected that the cost of sending 1 kg of cargo into orbit could eventually fall below $100. This forecast relies heavily on the complete reusability of the Starship space system, a transformative development for space exploration.
Musk explained that while SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket achieves about 80% reusability with its returning booster, the upper stage is discarded, adding significant expense. He likened the cost of the upper stage to that of a medium-sized jet, emphasizing the economic advantage of full reusability.
The Starship system, including the Super Heavy booster, is being designed from the ground up for full reuse. Musk foresees the potential for launching the Super Heavy booster as frequently as every hour in the future.
This advancement aligns with SpaceX's broader vision for space access. Previously, in August, Musk stated that SpaceX anticipates utilizing the Starship system to deliver up to 10 million tons of cargo to orbit annually.
