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Launch costs have fallen 95% πŸ“‰ (with another massive reduction expected in the coming years) thanks to reuse, improved engineering, and increased volumes.
β€œIn economics, we assume that resources are limited; land is limited; natural resources are limited. With #space 🌌, it allows us to change that.” https://www.theguardian.com/science/article/2024/may/03/were-in-a-new-era-the-21st-century-space-race-takes-off

#LaunchCost#SpaceMining

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πŸ“Š #ESA πŸ‡ͺπŸ‡Ί and its member states forked over $4.4B πŸ’°πŸ’°πŸ’°πŸ’° to develop #Ariane6. Customer launches are unlikely to pay back development costs any time soon.

#SpaceX has invested over $5B πŸ’°πŸ’°πŸ’°πŸ’°πŸ’° in #Starship πŸš€ R&D to date. Starship has proven its expendable capability, and the company is focusing on achieving full #reusability ♻️.

#NASA spent a dizzying $24B πŸ’°πŸ’°πŸ’°πŸ’°πŸ’°πŸ’°πŸ’°πŸ’°πŸ’°πŸ’°πŸ’°πŸ’°πŸ’°πŸ’°πŸ’°πŸ’°πŸ’°πŸ’°πŸ’°πŸ’°πŸ’°πŸ’°πŸ’°πŸ’° developing #SLS
https://payloadspace.com/rocket-development-costs-by-vehicle-payload-research

#DevelopmentCost#LaunchCost

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β€œ #Amazon is purchasing up to 83 launches from #Arianespace, #BlueOrigin and #ULA”. At current market prices, it is assumed that the launch Capex from these 83 launches could be as high as $6 billion to $10 billion, deploying only half πŸŒ— as many satellites as #Starlink already did by πŸ“† mid-2024. If #Kuiper had access to the same launch deal as Starlink, its launch Capex could be less than half πŸ“‰ of what it is estimated here. https://spacenews.com/spacex-and-the-categorical-imperative-to-achieve-low-launch-cost/

#Ariane6#Vulcan#NewGlenn#LauchCost

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#NASA has contracts with four companies to gather a small amount of material from the lunar πŸŒ™ surfaceβ€”as a proof of concept to show that extraction is possible.
NASA doesn’t have a similar demonstration for mining βš’οΈ #asteroids. But the space rock seekers nevertheless continue their quest for treasure. They believe Earth needs, and will pay handily for, what space 🌌 has to offer. https://arstechnica.com/science/2024/05/in-the-race-for-space-metals-companies-hope-to-cash-in/

#AsteroidMining#MoonMining#SpaceMining

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πŸ“Š The #US πŸ‡ΊπŸ‡Έ spent $257 billion πŸ’°πŸ’°πŸ’° when adjusted for inflation to 2020 dollars on Project #Apollo between πŸ“† 1960 and πŸ“† 1973. The total amount spent on #NASA during this period was $482 billion πŸ’°πŸ’°πŸ’°πŸ’°πŸ’° adjusted https://www.planetary.org/space-policy/cost-of-apollo

#SaturnV#LaunchCost