SpaceX created history last week after it successfully lifted off the SES-10 satellite into orbit, by reusing a Falcon 9 rocket. The reused rocket was also the first to successfully land on the Of Course I Still Love You drone ship, which was sailing across the Atlantic Ocean.
The Falcon 9 rocket was first used in April 2016 to lift-off a resupply mission to the International Space Station. In the midst of creating history and stunning the world, SpaceX managed to save tons of money by recycling its available resources.
While speaking at the 33rd Space Symposium in Colorado, SpaceX president Gwynne Shotwell, revealed that the company's spend on the lift-off was "substantially less than half" the cost, which it would have incurred for a new first-stage Falcon 9 launch.
SpaceX Saves Money With Falcon 9 Reuse
While Shotwell confirmed that SpaceX saved substantial money by reusing a Falcon 9 rocket, she did not divulge the exact figure at the conference, which was held April 5.
However, Shotwell mentioned that the company is looking forward to reuse more of its Falcon 9 rockets. This move would aid SpaceX maximize cost savings, thanks to the reduction in refurbishment expenditure with each recovered stage.
Interestingly, despite the extensive refurbishment work carried out on the reused Falcon 9 rocket, SpaceX saved on costs.
"We did way more on this one than we're doing on future ones, of course," said Shotwell.
As a part of its long-term goal, Shotwell shared that SpaceX is aiming to reuse a rocket within 24 hours after its first-stage refurbishment.
"Our challenge right now is to refly a rocket within 24 hours. That's when we'll really feel like we've got reusability right," noted Shotwell.
Will The Cost Saving Be Passed On To SpaceX Clients?
Shotwell admitted that clients would have to bear the full cost for hiring SpaceX's rocket services. Shotwell also said that the company would be unable to offer a discount, equivalent to the full cost savings SpaceX will be making by deploying its reusable rockets.
Currently, SpaceX's commercial clients shell out $62 million per launch. SpaceX's CEO, Elon Musk believes that reusability of rockets will not only reduce fuel costs, but also make Space Tourism a reality.
SpaceX is optimistic that the use of reusable rockets will help the company shave off 30 percent from launch costs. However, critics are not convinced and United Launch Alliance's CEO Tony Bruno thinks it is not a game changer. At best, the reuse will slash off only 10 percent from current launch prices.
