Reduced launch costs using reusable heavy and superheavy launch vehicles

Abstract

In order to maintain the Russian Federation leading position in the market for launch vehicles, it is critically important to control the necessary costs. Existing economic models do not allow to take into account the changes that occur during the operation of the launch vehicle. Based on the phased method of calculating costs and ideas about the productivity rise curve (learning curve), a comprehensive model has been developed for generating costs for launching a reusable launch vehicle, which allows evaluating the effectiveness of an investment project and the payback period if investments are considered development costs. Using the «BFR» and «New Glenn» launch vehicles as an example, the model's performance was demonstrated and the launch cost reduction due to the use of re-launches was analyzed. A payback of 3 to 5 years can be achieved with 20 re-launches.