On Sunday, SpaceX was able to successfully “catch” the first-stage booster of its Starship megarocket.
The rocket returned to its launch pad after a test flight without being destroyed and was caught by SpaceX’s “Mechazilla arms” or “chopsticks” as they have been colloquially named.
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A multi-billion dollar project
As the world applauds Musk and his SpaceX team around the success of the catch, what did it cost the company to achieve the history-making accomplishment?
No actual figures have been released by SpaceX on the Starship project.
But according to Payload Research, SpaceX has spent around $5 billion (R87.3 billion) on Starship research and development as of February 2024.
It is estimated that the company could have spent around $10 billion (R174.6 billion) on the project and that does not include building costs.
Payload estimated that the Starship's cost included:
- Structure, plumbing, tiles, parts: $13 million (R226 million)
- Avionics: $3 million (R53.3 million)
- 39 Raptor engines: $39 million (R681million)
- Labour: $35 million (R611 million)
In total it could have cost SpaceX around $90 million (R1.5 billion) to get the Starship project up and in the air.
Why is this Starship so important?
The success of Sunday’s launch also means that the rocket can be reused in some fashion and will aid technicians in the post examination process.
Moreover, SpaceX is now one step closer to being able to rapidly deploy a rocket and bring it back safely.
This was a day for the history books, according engineers at SpaceX.
"Thousands of distinct vehicle and pad criteria had to be met prior to the catch attempt, and thanks to the tireless work of SpaceX engineers, we succeeded with catch on our first attempt," SpaceX said in a statement.
Last minute approval
“Thanks to the tireless work of SpaceX engineers, we succeeded with catch on our first attempt," the company added.
This was the fifth successful test launch of by SpaceX of the Starship rocket in Boca Chica near Brownsville, Texas.
According to USA Today, the test launch received last-minute approval from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), and it was originally anticipated that the launch would take place in November.
Starship was designed to carry cargo and crew to Earth's orbit, the moon and Mars, SpaceX noted.
US investment
SpaceX was paid around $2.9 billion (R50.6 billion) by the US government to develop a spacecraft that was capable of safely transporting astronauts from orbit to the moon.
This is part of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s (NASA) ambitious Artemis campaign.
The programme aims to create a lunar settlement on the south pole of the moon, where water is abundant in the form of ice and could be used for drinking, breathing and as a source of hydrogen and oxygen for rocket fuel.
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