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The cost of a space launch can vary depending on many factors, including the payload weight, destination and type of rocket used. In recent times, the average cost of a single space launch can range from tens of millions to hundreds of millions of dollars.

SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket launches have been advertised at around $62 million per launch, while larger rockets like the Falcon Heavy can cost upwards of $90 million per launch. On the higher end, NASA's Space Launch System (SLS) is estimated to cost over $2 billion per launch.

While all the time, we are advancing the technology in space exploration, one of the main challenges we're facing now is lowering these costs of space travel.

The Challenge of Traditional Space Travel Costs

The amount of labor hours needed to design, build, sustain, and test a rocket for successful launch costs some serious money.

Using the traditional method of building rockets for a single-use mission adds to these expenses, which lowers the frequency and scale of launches. The need for a more sustainable and cost-effective method is apparent.

Enter Reusable Launch Vehicles

Unlike disposable rockets, reusable rockets, which have come into popularity recently, are designed to be recovered and launched again multiple times.

These rockets use features like:

Propulsive landing: The rocket's first stage returns to Earth under its own power and lands vertically, using engines to slow its descent.

Modular design: Components of the rocket are designed for easy disassembly and refurbishment in between flights.

Heat shield technology: Reusable rockets can use advanced heat shield materials to protect them during re-entry.

Advanced manufacturing: Reusable rockets often use cutting-edge manufacturing materials to ensure durability throughout multiple launches.

The Economics of Rocket Reusability

The economic benefits of reusable launch vehicles are considerable. Using a reusable rocket over a traditional rocket can be up to 65% cheaper.

Consider a commercial airplane - if every flight involved building a new plane, air travel would be expensive. The concept of reusability in space launches aims to reduce these costs significantly.

Traditional rocket launches are akin to using a single-use disposable item, where the entire rocket is used after a single flight. In contrast, reusable space launch systems spread the development and manufacturing costs across multiple missions.

This model promises to lower costs for missions like satellite deployment, resupply missions to the International Space Station (ISS) and missions to the Moon and Mars.

The Environmental Benefits of Rocket Reusability

Beyond cost savings, reusable launch vehicles also contribute to a more sustainable approach to space exploration. Reducing the number of discarded rocket components lowers space debris, which is a growing issue, and has an environmental impact, aligning with the growing global emphasis on responsible and sustainable practices.

In addition, reusable rockets use less fuel than expendable rockets, making them comparatively better for the environment.

Recent Projects and Innovations in Rocket Reusability
SpaceX and the Falcon 9
A testament to the success of reusable launch vehicles is SpaceX's Falcon 9.

The Falcon 9 is a reusable, two-stage rocket designed and manufactured by SpaceX for safely transporting people and payloads into Earth orbit and beyond. As the world's first orbital class reusable rocket, this rocket can refly its most expensive parts, which drives down the cost of space access. Powered by SpaceX's Merlin engine, the Falcon 9 booster can be reused over 10 times, with minimal maintenance between flights.

SpaceX has achieved multiple successful landings and relaunches, showing the potential for mission frequency in reusable rockets.
Blue Origin's New Shepard
Beyond SpaceX, several other players in the aerospace industry are contributing to the field of rocket reusability.

Blue Origin's New Shepard, for instance, is designed for suborbital flights and is paving the way for reusable technology in space tourism. Blue Origin uses New Shepard to launch space tourists on brief flights and aims to launch people and payloads to orbit, using a new rocket under development called New Glenn, which is slated to launch in 2024.
Rocket Lab
Companies like Rocket Lab, a Space Enterprise Consortium (SpEC) member with NSTXL, are exploring innovative ways to recover and reuse rocket components.

Rocket Lab's Electron rocket is described as 'the world's first reusable orbital small rocket' and is already the world's most frequently launched small rocket annually. Rocket Lab equips Electron's first stage with a parachute to slow its descent from space back to Earth, where it touches down in the ocean for collection and refurbishment, ready for its next flight.

Last year, we caught up with Shaun D'Mello, VP of Launch at Rocket Lab, to discuss the progression of the USTAGE program awarded through the SpEC OTA in 2021. In addition, Shaun referenced the Electron project and the impact of its birth in the reusable rocket space. Watch the full video below:

SpEC Channeling Innovation in Space Technology

The integration of cutting-edge technologies will be key in furthering space travel. Whether it be Space Situational Awareness or advancing next-generation rocket testing, t he SpEC OTA is continuously harvesting new technology from our community to further space endeavors.

Towards New Horizons

Reusable launch vehicles are revolutionizing space exploration by reducing costs and increasing the frequency of missions.

By encouraging new innovators to join our mission, we can contribute to shaping the future of space exploration, making it more accessible and cost-efficient.

About SpEC

In 2017, the Space and Missile Systems Center established SpEC to connect the Department of Defense (DoD) with a network of innovators and creators across the most sought-after emerging technology fields as they research and develop space-related prototypes.

These opportunities come at a key stage in SpEC's growth. Building on an already groundbreaking year, SpEC continues to fuel innovation for DoD space advancement and push the boundaries of prototype development.

Companies interested in joining the Space Enterprise Consortium and submitting on these opportunities can find more information about the organization, including how to join at https://www.space-enterprise.org/.

About NSTXL

NSTXL is focused on building a network of innovators and creators across the most sought-after emerging technology fields. As an open-source platform, our approach was designed to encourage network growth and collaboration without stifling change. We support our network by providing commercial-term contracting, open-source technology discovery, modern-day marketing outreach, a strongly interconnected network for easy teaming and cybersecurity compliance support.

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Reducing the Cost of Space Travel with Reusable Launch Vehicles - NSTXL

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The cost of a space launch can vary depending on many factors, including the payload weight, destination and type of rocket used. In recent times, the average cost of a single space launch can range from tens of millions to hundreds of millions of dollars.

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Cost of space travel before reusable Rockets. A1

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Cost of space travel before reusable Rockets. A1

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"The economic benefits of reusable launch vehicles are considerable. Using a reusable rocket over a traditional rocket can be up to 65% cheaper" (Para 12). 10/23/24

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Rockets utilize new propulsive landing technology to land safely on Earth after delivering a payload to space. They also contain better manufacturing to assist with durability and protection from space's harsh environment. 10/23/24

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Reusable Rockets Help the Environment A3

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Reusable Rockets Help the Environment A3

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Reusable rockets are more environmentally friendly, reducing space debris, decreasing fuel consumption, and enabling hardware recycling. 10/23/24

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"This model promises to lower costs for missions like satellite deployment, resupply missions to the International Space Station (ISS), and missions to the Moon and Mars"(Para 15).

10/23/24

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This is how farmers are using satellites to enhance adaptation - Global Center on Adaptation

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A solutions broker to accelerate action and support for adaptation solutions around the world

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Satellites can support agriculture through a method called precision farming. This technique utilizes data from satellites to determine the specific needs of fields, leading to more efficient and sustainable farming practices.

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"The knowledge gained from these processes can help farmers better understand a range of farming issues, such as: areas in need of more or less irrigation; where their livestock roam; which fertilizer to use, and where; the impact of new weather patterns; and so much more." (para 5)

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Farmers seeing benefits from the satellite farming B3

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Farmers seeing benefits from the satellite farming B3

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"that farmers using the technology noticed reduced costs and increased quality and volume of output" (para 8). 10/25/24

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Blue Origin is a company that develops reusable rockets for industries such as space tourism. 10/25/24

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10/28/24

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The space economy is projected to nearly triple over the next 12 years, increasing from $630 billion to $1.8 trillion.

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Satellites growth for other industries revenue 10/28/24 C2

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Satellites growth for other industries revenue 10/28/24 C2

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The remarkable growth in the space industry can largely be attributed to companies increasingly harnessing satellite signals to enhance their operations.

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"The number of satellites launched per year has grown at a cumulative annual rate of above 50% from 2019 to 2023" (Page 5).

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Space plays a significant economic role and helps address global challenges such as climate change, disaster monitoring, and worldwide prosperity.

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growth of the space industry 10/28/24 (Hakamada as cited in, "article name" Page 15) C5

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growth of the space industry 10/28/24 (Hakamada as cited in, "article name" Page 15) C5

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"There is no doubt that the expansion of space-based infrastructure in the next decade will contribute to many important economic activities on Earth. As infrastructure around the Earth expands, the ecosystem in space will expand to include the Moon, cis-lunar space and beyond, enabling access to deep space and space resources."

Takeshi Hakamada, Founder and Chief Executive Officer, ispace

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As the world uses more mobile devices, greater satellite infrastructure is required to support the devices' internet features and GPS. The demand for data is expected to increase by 60% in the coming years.

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Satellite servicing on-site will become common in the coming years. This will allow satellites to be cleaned, refueled, and upgraded, extending their lifespan while reducing space waste.

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Space Situational Awareness (SSA) and Space Traffic Management (STM) - NSTXL

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With so much happening in the orbits around the Earth, more and more companies as well as the U.S. military are focusing on space situational awareness.

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"It’s expected in the near future, as many as 20,000 additional satellites will be put into space. Some simple space situational awareness says space is about to get very crowded" para 2

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"Even though this debris-filled space continues to be an issue, it’s not slowing down the movement to launch more into space." 10/29/24 para 9

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Doing research for space also benefits other industries and workforce developments through more advances in science and new technological devices.

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"The wider list of technological

benefits encompasses improved

solar panels, implantable heart

monitors, light‐based anti‐cancer

therapy, cordless tools, light‐

weight high‐temperature alloys

used in jet engine turbines,

cameras found in today's cell

phones, compact water‐

purification systems, global

search‐and‐rescue systems and

biomedical technologies." page 12

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The recycling techniques and technologies developed for spacecraft could be applied to systems on Earth. 10/31/24

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Why to invest into more space research and travel E4

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Why to invest into more space research and travel E4

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More research and innovation are needed to enhance sustainability in space and develop better technology for more viable and efficient space travel. 10/3/1/24

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Many space projects require collaboration among various space agencies and governments. Working together helps governments build stronger relationships and tackle global challenges.

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"The first fifty years of space activity have generated benefits for people around the globe. This past record gives strong reason for confidence that renewed investments in space exploration will have similarly positive impacts for future generations."

page 21 10/31/24

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"One of the challenges in space, in addition to active satellites, is all the space debris."

para 8

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"The ISS partnership, nearly thirty years old, is the pre‐eminent example of successful,

continuing international cooperation in space exploration" page 13