Why is SpaceX not creating its own launch vehicle for small satellites?












6












$begingroup$


With a (predicted) $5.5 Billion dollar market, why isn't SpaceX trying to build its own 'mini launch vehicles'? With the brand and the technology they have, they can easily capture a huge chunk of the market.






spacex rockets launch-vehicle small-launch-vehicles







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$endgroup$












  • $begingroup$
    The cost of a rocket does not scale linearly with payload mass. The cost and weight for electronics will be about the same for a smaller rocket. Therefore using the same rocket for launch of many small satellites together may be cheaper. Using the same launch vehicle instead of developing a new one saves a lot of money.
    $endgroup$
    – Uwe
    Dec 28 '18 at 12:36


















6












$begingroup$


With a (predicted) $5.5 Billion dollar market, why isn't SpaceX trying to build its own 'mini launch vehicles'? With the brand and the technology they have, they can easily capture a huge chunk of the market.






spacex rockets launch-vehicle small-launch-vehicles







share|improve this question











$endgroup$












  • $begingroup$
    The cost of a rocket does not scale linearly with payload mass. The cost and weight for electronics will be about the same for a smaller rocket. Therefore using the same rocket for launch of many small satellites together may be cheaper. Using the same launch vehicle instead of developing a new one saves a lot of money.
    $endgroup$
    – Uwe
    Dec 28 '18 at 12:36
















6












6








6


1



$begingroup$


With a (predicted) $5.5 Billion dollar market, why isn't SpaceX trying to build its own 'mini launch vehicles'? With the brand and the technology they have, they can easily capture a huge chunk of the market.






spacex rockets launch-vehicle small-launch-vehicles







share|improve this question











$endgroup$




With a (predicted) $5.5 Billion dollar market, why isn't SpaceX trying to build its own 'mini launch vehicles'? With the brand and the technology they have, they can easily capture a huge chunk of the market.






spacex rockets launch-vehicle small-launch-vehicles




spacex rockets launch-vehicle small-launch-vehicles






share|improve this question















share|improve this question













share|improve this question




share|improve this question








edited Dec 28 '18 at 10:21







Amar

















asked Dec 28 '18 at 10:15









AmarAmar

1,041528




1,041528












  • $begingroup$
    The cost of a rocket does not scale linearly with payload mass. The cost and weight for electronics will be about the same for a smaller rocket. Therefore using the same rocket for launch of many small satellites together may be cheaper. Using the same launch vehicle instead of developing a new one saves a lot of money.
    $endgroup$
    – Uwe
    Dec 28 '18 at 12:36




















  • $begingroup$
    The cost of a rocket does not scale linearly with payload mass. The cost and weight for electronics will be about the same for a smaller rocket. Therefore using the same rocket for launch of many small satellites together may be cheaper. Using the same launch vehicle instead of developing a new one saves a lot of money.
    $endgroup$
    – Uwe
    Dec 28 '18 at 12:36


















$begingroup$
The cost of a rocket does not scale linearly with payload mass. The cost and weight for electronics will be about the same for a smaller rocket. Therefore using the same rocket for launch of many small satellites together may be cheaper. Using the same launch vehicle instead of developing a new one saves a lot of money.
$endgroup$
– Uwe
Dec 28 '18 at 12:36






$begingroup$
The cost of a rocket does not scale linearly with payload mass. The cost and weight for electronics will be about the same for a smaller rocket. Therefore using the same rocket for launch of many small satellites together may be cheaper. Using the same launch vehicle instead of developing a new one saves a lot of money.
$endgroup$
– Uwe
Dec 28 '18 at 12:36












3 Answers
3






active

oldest

votes


















15












$begingroup$

They already have one. The Falcon 9. Earlier this month a single Falcon 9 put 64 smallsats on orbit. It was arranged by a rideshare company, Spaceflight, at prices that small launch vehicles would have a hard time competing with, starting at $300,000.






share|improve this answer











$endgroup$





















    2












    $begingroup$

    Everything SpaceX does is in service of Elon Musk's ultimate goal of retiring to Mars. The Falcon 9 was a stepping stone, developing a separate small launcher would take a lot of development effort that doesn't help the ultimate goal.



    Their plan involves moving all payloads to the BFR, a reusable spaceship that could be more economical than throwing away a small rocket on every launch.






    share|improve this answer











    $endgroup$





















      2












      $begingroup$

      They already dipped their toes in that, it was called Falcon 1. Basically they didn't find enough demand to justify keeping it around. Granted today there is more of a demand for such then there was in the past, but...



      The ultimate solution will be Starship (BFR). The estimated cost of a single launch is about $6 million. An Electron rocket costs $5 million. The amount of payload that Starship can take to LEO is VASTLY larger then an Electron rocket.



      As for the $5.5 billion market size, that would include building and launching them. Let's say there is 100 launches per year, that would only come to a $1 billion launch cost of total launches per year. They could do it, but there is a limit to how much engineering they can do, and it is more worth their while to go after the bigger fishes of Starlink and Starship.






      share|improve this answer









      $endgroup$









      • 1




        $begingroup$
        “The estimated cost of a single [BFR] launch is about $6 million.” I’d be very skeptical of that. Let’s see how well the Falcon 9 Block 5 does first.
        $endgroup$
        – Michael
        Dec 28 '18 at 20:20






      • 1




        $begingroup$
        @Michael though it's worth noting the BFR will likely be able to achieve lower costs than the F9B5 every will, due higher reusability % and focus.
        $endgroup$
        – NPSF3000
        Dec 28 '18 at 23:08











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      3 Answers
      3






      active

      oldest

      votes








      3 Answers
      3






      active

      oldest

      votes









      active

      oldest

      votes






      active

      oldest

      votes









      15












      $begingroup$

      They already have one. The Falcon 9. Earlier this month a single Falcon 9 put 64 smallsats on orbit. It was arranged by a rideshare company, Spaceflight, at prices that small launch vehicles would have a hard time competing with, starting at $300,000.






      share|improve this answer











      $endgroup$


















        15












        $begingroup$

        They already have one. The Falcon 9. Earlier this month a single Falcon 9 put 64 smallsats on orbit. It was arranged by a rideshare company, Spaceflight, at prices that small launch vehicles would have a hard time competing with, starting at $300,000.






        share|improve this answer











        $endgroup$
















          15












          15








          15





          $begingroup$

          They already have one. The Falcon 9. Earlier this month a single Falcon 9 put 64 smallsats on orbit. It was arranged by a rideshare company, Spaceflight, at prices that small launch vehicles would have a hard time competing with, starting at $300,000.






          share|improve this answer











          $endgroup$



          They already have one. The Falcon 9. Earlier this month a single Falcon 9 put 64 smallsats on orbit. It was arranged by a rideshare company, Spaceflight, at prices that small launch vehicles would have a hard time competing with, starting at $300,000.







          share|improve this answer














          share|improve this answer



          share|improve this answer








          edited Dec 28 '18 at 17:16

























          answered Dec 28 '18 at 13:52









          Mark AdlerMark Adler

          49.6k3126209




          49.6k3126209























              2












              $begingroup$

              Everything SpaceX does is in service of Elon Musk's ultimate goal of retiring to Mars. The Falcon 9 was a stepping stone, developing a separate small launcher would take a lot of development effort that doesn't help the ultimate goal.



              Their plan involves moving all payloads to the BFR, a reusable spaceship that could be more economical than throwing away a small rocket on every launch.






              share|improve this answer











              $endgroup$


















                2












                $begingroup$

                Everything SpaceX does is in service of Elon Musk's ultimate goal of retiring to Mars. The Falcon 9 was a stepping stone, developing a separate small launcher would take a lot of development effort that doesn't help the ultimate goal.



                Their plan involves moving all payloads to the BFR, a reusable spaceship that could be more economical than throwing away a small rocket on every launch.






                share|improve this answer











                $endgroup$
















                  2












                  2








                  2





                  $begingroup$

                  Everything SpaceX does is in service of Elon Musk's ultimate goal of retiring to Mars. The Falcon 9 was a stepping stone, developing a separate small launcher would take a lot of development effort that doesn't help the ultimate goal.



                  Their plan involves moving all payloads to the BFR, a reusable spaceship that could be more economical than throwing away a small rocket on every launch.






                  share|improve this answer











                  $endgroup$



                  Everything SpaceX does is in service of Elon Musk's ultimate goal of retiring to Mars. The Falcon 9 was a stepping stone, developing a separate small launcher would take a lot of development effort that doesn't help the ultimate goal.



                  Their plan involves moving all payloads to the BFR, a reusable spaceship that could be more economical than throwing away a small rocket on every launch.







                  share|improve this answer














                  share|improve this answer



                  share|improve this answer








                  edited Dec 28 '18 at 11:42

























                  answered Dec 28 '18 at 11:17









                  HobbesHobbes

                  91.3k2256409




                  91.3k2256409























                      2












                      $begingroup$

                      They already dipped their toes in that, it was called Falcon 1. Basically they didn't find enough demand to justify keeping it around. Granted today there is more of a demand for such then there was in the past, but...



                      The ultimate solution will be Starship (BFR). The estimated cost of a single launch is about $6 million. An Electron rocket costs $5 million. The amount of payload that Starship can take to LEO is VASTLY larger then an Electron rocket.



                      As for the $5.5 billion market size, that would include building and launching them. Let's say there is 100 launches per year, that would only come to a $1 billion launch cost of total launches per year. They could do it, but there is a limit to how much engineering they can do, and it is more worth their while to go after the bigger fishes of Starlink and Starship.






                      share|improve this answer









                      $endgroup$









                      • 1




                        $begingroup$
                        “The estimated cost of a single [BFR] launch is about $6 million.” I’d be very skeptical of that. Let’s see how well the Falcon 9 Block 5 does first.
                        $endgroup$
                        – Michael
                        Dec 28 '18 at 20:20






                      • 1




                        $begingroup$
                        @Michael though it's worth noting the BFR will likely be able to achieve lower costs than the F9B5 every will, due higher reusability % and focus.
                        $endgroup$
                        – NPSF3000
                        Dec 28 '18 at 23:08
















                      2












                      $begingroup$

                      They already dipped their toes in that, it was called Falcon 1. Basically they didn't find enough demand to justify keeping it around. Granted today there is more of a demand for such then there was in the past, but...



                      The ultimate solution will be Starship (BFR). The estimated cost of a single launch is about $6 million. An Electron rocket costs $5 million. The amount of payload that Starship can take to LEO is VASTLY larger then an Electron rocket.



                      As for the $5.5 billion market size, that would include building and launching them. Let's say there is 100 launches per year, that would only come to a $1 billion launch cost of total launches per year. They could do it, but there is a limit to how much engineering they can do, and it is more worth their while to go after the bigger fishes of Starlink and Starship.






                      share|improve this answer









                      $endgroup$









                      • 1




                        $begingroup$
                        “The estimated cost of a single [BFR] launch is about $6 million.” I’d be very skeptical of that. Let’s see how well the Falcon 9 Block 5 does first.
                        $endgroup$
                        – Michael
                        Dec 28 '18 at 20:20






                      • 1




                        $begingroup$
                        @Michael though it's worth noting the BFR will likely be able to achieve lower costs than the F9B5 every will, due higher reusability % and focus.
                        $endgroup$
                        – NPSF3000
                        Dec 28 '18 at 23:08














                      2












                      2








                      2





                      $begingroup$

                      They already dipped their toes in that, it was called Falcon 1. Basically they didn't find enough demand to justify keeping it around. Granted today there is more of a demand for such then there was in the past, but...



                      The ultimate solution will be Starship (BFR). The estimated cost of a single launch is about $6 million. An Electron rocket costs $5 million. The amount of payload that Starship can take to LEO is VASTLY larger then an Electron rocket.



                      As for the $5.5 billion market size, that would include building and launching them. Let's say there is 100 launches per year, that would only come to a $1 billion launch cost of total launches per year. They could do it, but there is a limit to how much engineering they can do, and it is more worth their while to go after the bigger fishes of Starlink and Starship.






                      share|improve this answer









                      $endgroup$



                      They already dipped their toes in that, it was called Falcon 1. Basically they didn't find enough demand to justify keeping it around. Granted today there is more of a demand for such then there was in the past, but...



                      The ultimate solution will be Starship (BFR). The estimated cost of a single launch is about $6 million. An Electron rocket costs $5 million. The amount of payload that Starship can take to LEO is VASTLY larger then an Electron rocket.



                      As for the $5.5 billion market size, that would include building and launching them. Let's say there is 100 launches per year, that would only come to a $1 billion launch cost of total launches per year. They could do it, but there is a limit to how much engineering they can do, and it is more worth their while to go after the bigger fishes of Starlink and Starship.







                      share|improve this answer












                      share|improve this answer



                      share|improve this answer










                      answered Dec 28 '18 at 14:46









                      PearsonArtPhoto♦PearsonArtPhoto

                      82.4k16235448




                      82.4k16235448








                      • 1




                        $begingroup$
                        “The estimated cost of a single [BFR] launch is about $6 million.” I’d be very skeptical of that. Let’s see how well the Falcon 9 Block 5 does first.
                        $endgroup$
                        – Michael
                        Dec 28 '18 at 20:20






                      • 1




                        $begingroup$
                        @Michael though it's worth noting the BFR will likely be able to achieve lower costs than the F9B5 every will, due higher reusability % and focus.
                        $endgroup$
                        – NPSF3000
                        Dec 28 '18 at 23:08














                      • 1




                        $begingroup$
                        “The estimated cost of a single [BFR] launch is about $6 million.” I’d be very skeptical of that. Let’s see how well the Falcon 9 Block 5 does first.
                        $endgroup$
                        – Michael
                        Dec 28 '18 at 20:20






                      • 1




                        $begingroup$
                        @Michael though it's worth noting the BFR will likely be able to achieve lower costs than the F9B5 every will, due higher reusability % and focus.
                        $endgroup$
                        – NPSF3000
                        Dec 28 '18 at 23:08








                      1




                      1




                      $begingroup$
                      “The estimated cost of a single [BFR] launch is about $6 million.” I’d be very skeptical of that. Let’s see how well the Falcon 9 Block 5 does first.
                      $endgroup$
                      – Michael
                      Dec 28 '18 at 20:20




                      $begingroup$
                      “The estimated cost of a single [BFR] launch is about $6 million.” I’d be very skeptical of that. Let’s see how well the Falcon 9 Block 5 does first.
                      $endgroup$
                      – Michael
                      Dec 28 '18 at 20:20




                      1




                      1




                      $begingroup$
                      @Michael though it's worth noting the BFR will likely be able to achieve lower costs than the F9B5 every will, due higher reusability % and focus.
                      $endgroup$
                      – NPSF3000
                      Dec 28 '18 at 23:08




                      $begingroup$
                      @Michael though it's worth noting the BFR will likely be able to achieve lower costs than the F9B5 every will, due higher reusability % and focus.
                      $endgroup$
                      – NPSF3000
                      Dec 28 '18 at 23:08


















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