How much a rocket launch cost?

The most useful way to compare launchers is cost per kilogram delivered to low Earth orbit. A Falcon 9 listed at about 70 million dollars carrying up to 22,800 kg works out near 3,000 dollars per kilogram if the rocket is full, and SpaceX's rideshare programme sells individual slots at roughly 6,000–6,500 dollars per kilogram (2024–2025 price list). Small launchers are more expensive per kilogram: an Electron at 7–8 million dollars for about 300 kg is above 20,000 dollars per kilogram, but it gives a small satellite its own schedule and orbit. Government heavy lifters sit far above both; NASA's inspector general has put a Space Launch System launch at more than 2 billion dollars.

Propellant is a surprisingly small item. A Falcon 9 burns a few hundred tonnes of kerosene and liquid oxygen worth well under a million dollars. The bulk of the price is hardware: engines, tanks, avionics and the upper stage, which is still expended on every Falcon 9 flight. Then come operations, from the launch pad and range safety fees to tracking, recovery ships and the engineering team that reviews every flight. Insurance, payload integration and any special services, such as a particular orbit or a delayed launch date, are added on top of the base price.

Recovering and reflying a first stage removes the most expensive single element from each subsequent mission, which is why Falcon 9 prices fell below those of comparable expendable rockets. Starship aims to reuse both stages, and its long-term goal is a price per launch far below current heavy rockets, though that remains a target rather than a published price.