The cost of rocket launches has seen a significant decrease since 2000, primarily due to advancements in technology and increased competition among launch providers. Here is some data on the cost trends:
- Between 2000 and 2012, the cost per kilogram to reach low Earth orbit (LEO) ranged from $10,000 to $20,000 . This was largely dominated by government-funded programs like NASA and the European Space Agency.
- In 2013, SpaceX launched its first commercial cargo resupply mission to the International Space Station for NASA at a cost of $1.5 billion , which was significantly lower than previous estimates. This marked a turning point in the industry as it demonstrated that private companies could compete with government-funded programs.