Re:SpaceX’s Starlink Constellation construction begins
by azernik on Tuesday April 16, 2019 @11:37PM
(#19679565)
They're getting to the point where they're demand-limited rather than supply-limited - plowing through the backlog quite fast, and the GTO launch market is in a downturn.
Re:SpaceX’s Starlink Constellation construction begins
by agildehaus on Wednesday April 17, 2019 @01:28AM
(#19679973)
SpaceX keeps rockets other customers "paid" for after they've landed (the customer pays for the flight, not the rocket). They've amassed a fleet they never had to pay a dime to construct.
I believe they have eight block 5 Falcon 9s that landed successfully. More if you count previous generations, but those likely won't be reused.
Re:SpaceX’s Starlink Constellation construction begins
by fyfy18 on Wednesday April 17, 2019 @01:37AM
(#19680014)
Does the price of a launch completely cover the cost of construction (excluding R&D)?
Re:SpaceX’s Starlink Constellation construction begins
by usrusr on Wednesday April 17, 2019 @02:03AM
(#19680125)
It does, for the competition, and there is no reason for SpaceX to go much lower as long as they don't build excessive overcapacity that needs to be filled.
Re:SpaceX’s Starlink Constellation construction begins
by nickik on Wednesday April 17, 2019 @05:41AM
(#19681093)
Yes. They actually improved a lot of rocket construction and that's why they were cheaper then everybody else BEFORE re-usability. Now re-usability they just increase the profit.
Until somebody else challenges their price, they can get huge profit from every launch.
Re:SpaceX’s Starlink Constellation construction begins
by deanCommie on Tuesday April 16, 2019 @11:17PM
(#19679463)
Not if the opportunity is to be ahead of your rivals to a new market frontier and guarantee a head start
Re:SpaceX’s Starlink Constellation construction begins
by TimTheTinker on Tuesday April 16, 2019 @11:37PM
(#19679566)
Even then you're trading one opportunity cost for another.
But if it means they can increase the # of rockets they build, they might pick up some efficiency gains on the back stretch. I'm pretty sure they're already struggling to keep up with demand, tho.