Re:Europe's new Ariane 6 rocket powers into space
by jinzo on Wednesday July 10, 2024 @06:44AM
(#40925572)
You do know that this article completely forgets to mention if SpaceX got any subsidies? From a quick google search, it seems that this is not the case and I have a feeling that Falcon 9 sticker price is in fact subsidied by the USA. So - why compare apples to apples, when you can compare apples to oranges.
Re:Europe's new Ariane 6 rocket powers into space
by JumpCrisscross on Wednesday July 10, 2024 @07:35AM
(#40925789)
> this is not the case and I have a feeling that Falcon 9 sticker price is in fact subsidied by the USA
They’re both state supported. But Falcon 9 is cash-flow positive on commercial launches where the only operational subsidies are launch complex access.
Re:Europe's new Ariane 6 rocket powers into space
by InTheArena on Wednesday July 10, 2024 @09:24AM
(#40926624)
It is not. The sticker price is not subsidized by the state. The state does buy a lot of launches as a consumer. These are often conflated.
Re:Europe's new Ariane 6 rocket powers into space
by dotnet00 on Wednesday July 10, 2024 @11:16AM
(#40927854)
Falcon 9 is 'subsidized' by the USA in the way that businesses 'subsidize' development of new products and services through profit from selling products, getting investors and completing contracts at fixed cost to the customer. Ariane is subsidized in that their development expenses are fully paid for by government coffers, and additional money is provided yearly regardless of services rendered to make the sticker price for a launch seem lower.
It’s after subsidies [1]. Actual costs are 4 to 6x Falcon 9, and that’s comparing actual costs today for Falcon 9 to projected costs in the future for Ariane 6.
[1] https://www.space.com/europe-ariane-6-rocket-debut-launch