SpaceX's RD Spending on Rocket Programs: Falcon 1, 9, Heavy, and Starship

SpaceX, a privately held aerospace manufacturer and space transportation company, has been at the forefront of innovation in the private space industry. However, the exact figures for its investments in research and development (RD) for specific rocket programs like Falcon 1, Falcon 9, Falcon Heavy, and Starship (previously referred to as BFR) have not been publicly disclosed. Nonetheless, it is widely understood that SpaceX has invested billions in these programs. This article delves into the estimated costs and the significance of these investments.

General Estimates for Individual Rocket Programs

Falcon 1 F1

The development costs for Falcon 1 were relatively lower compared to later rockets, estimated around $90 million to $100 million. The Falcon 1 took four years to start launching and an additional two years to achieve its first successful launch.

Falcon 9 F9

The development and ongoing RD for Falcon 9 are estimated to be in the range of several hundred million dollars, potentially exceeding $1 billion when considering all iterations and upgrades. The Falcon 9 v1.0 was launched just two years after approximately $300 million in initial development costs, concurrently with the development of the Dragon 1 capsule, which cost $545 million.

Falcon Heavy FH

The Falcon Heavy, based on the Falcon 9 design, likely incurred additional costs in the range of hundreds of millions for its unique modifications and testing. The total development cost for Falcon Heavy is estimated to be around $500 million, and it launched in February 2018.

Starship BFR

Estimates for RD investment in Starship (previously known as BFR) have varied widely. Some estimates suggest that costs could reach $5 billion or more as the program continues to develop and evolve.

Summary

While exact figures are not available, SpaceX's total investment in RD for its rocket programs likely exceeds several billion dollars with ongoing investments as development continues, especially for Starship. These substantial investments have driven significant advancements in reusable rocket technology and have significantly reduced the cost of space transportation compared to traditional government programs.

The Value of SpaceX's RD

The first SpaceX vehicle, the Falcon 1, cost $90 million for development, just the cost of a single Falcon 9 expendable launch. It took them four years to start launching it and two more years to get it to launch successfully. The Falcon 9 v1.0 was launched just two years after an initial development cost of approximately $300 million, with the development of the Dragon 1 capsule costing $545 million at the same time.

The Falcon Heavy, the world's only currently flying super heavy-lift rocket, took seven years to develop, largely because SpaceX decided to push the development of Falcon 9, the Heavy's base vehicle. The total development cost for Falcon Heavy is estimated to be around $500 million, and it launched in February 2018.

SpaceX is currently working on a new version of the Dragon called the Crew Dragon, the cost of which is uncertain.

While these amounts might seem significant, they are actually quite remarkable. For example, the Orion capsule is expected to cost in total by 2023 about $23 billion. This means you could find SpaceX's capsule, small lift launcher, medium lift, reusable launch vehicle, and super heavy lift reusable launch vehicle eleven times over and still not cost as much as the development of just the Orion capsule!

The Space Launch System (SLS), a fully expendable rocket using shuttle parts, is expected to cost $35 billion through 2025. Together, you could fund SpaceX's development costs 29 times over, which is truly insane!

Estimate for Starship BFR

Given the complexity and the need for a completely new system, the number I'll pull out of my bottom is $4 billion as a very rough total cost of all precious SpaceX vehicle developments times two for the sake of conservatism. Alternatively, you could think of it as approximately 1/9th of a fully expendable system that could send four people around the moon, not even landing on it. However, considering Starship's capability to launch more cost-effectively and send 100 people to the Martian surface, that's a pretty sweet deal!

The investment in SpaceX's RD is not only important for technological advancements but also for driving down the cost of commercial space travel. These investments have significantly improved the cost-effectiveness and reliability of SpaceX's rockets, making space exploration more accessible and sustainable.