Rocket Development Costs by Vehicle: Payload Research
In 2008, Falcon 1 became the first privately funded, fully liquid-fueled launch vehicle to reach orbit. Its development cost? Just $90M ($131M inflation adj.).
Jack Kuhr
Tracking Next-Gen LEO Satcom Constellations
Out are the days of onesie twosies large GEO satcom birds, and in are the mega-constellations in LEO, consisting of an army of hundreds or thousands of smaller satellites that provide ultra-fast connectivity.
Iridium and the Satcom R&D Lifecycle
Space businesses have gained a reputation as cash-burning machines. Investors typically fork over tens of millions in development dollars before a startup can launch a single piece of hardware.
Habitable Worlds Observatory and the Future of Space Telescopes in the Era of Super Heavy Lift Launch
This content is restricted to subscribers
Charts Defining the Space Industry in Q2
There were 63 total global launches in Q2 2024, a 40% YoY increase. The usual suspects, SpaceX and China, are once again leading the charge.
Starlink Mini Impact and Rapid Terminal Iteration
SpaceX unveiled its Starlink Mini terminal last week.
LEO and GEO Satellite Operators Battle it out on EPFD Rules
Late last year, the World Radiocommunication Conference (WRC-23) approved a proposal to review EPFD (Equivalent Power Flux Density) limits, a critical juncture in rights negotiations between GEO and LEO operators that sets the stage for regulatory action by 2027 or 2031.
A Look Into China’s Defense Payloads
China’s secretive military reusable space plane, which launched late last year, deployed an unidentified object into orbit last week.
Tracking EchoStar’s Subscriber Declines
EchoStar reported another quarter of declining revenue last week as its Hughes Network satellite broadband, TV (Dish + Sling), and retail wireless (Boost Mobile) subscriber base continues to shrink.
Starliner by the Numbers
With Starliner slated to transport crew to the ISS for the first time next week, we’re digging into all the money spent to get here—from NASA’s contributions and seat pricing to the total development expenditures.
Sign up for a preview.
Sign up for a preview with our free weekly newsletter.
LATEST REPORT
Rocket Lab Report
Rocket Lab’s thesis centers on becoming a fully integrated space infrastructure company, controlling every step from satellite production and launch to space-based data services
