MOSCOW, 26 APR – RIA Novosti. Elon Musk sells launch services on a Falcon 9 commercial and government markets at different prices because they compete with different players, told RIA Novosti correspondent member of Russian Academy of cosmonautics named after Tsiolkovsky Andrew Jonas.
Earlier, the Russian company “glavkosmos launch services” (included in the scope of “Roscosmos”), which directly competes with SpaceX for launch services market, said that the American company Ilona Mask cheap reusable rocket, as their real full price originally paid by NASA or DoD. Before dumping on the part of SpaceX, said the General Director of the Russian space Agency, Dmitry Rogozin. In his opinion, the market price of the launch of the rocket Falcon-9 is about $ 60 million, but NASA and the Pentagon it costs 1.5-4 times more expensive.
He explained that the market for commercial launch services Musk competes with the European Ariane 5 (now to compete with SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket the company is developing the Ariane rocket, the Ariane 6 – ed.) and previously competed with the Russian “Proton-M”. “Therefore, the Mask offers a price slightly lower than theirs, with the result that knocks them out of the market”, – said the expert.
“In tenders for runs in the interests of NASA and the Pentagon that are closed to the participation of Chinese, Russian, European and other foreign players, Musk is competing with American missiles Delta IV and Atlas 5. NASA buys launch services Atlas 5 for 150 million U.S. dollars. Therefore, the Mask offers its services for 100 million and beats out of your tender United Launch Alliance. Why would he sell their services in the commercial market of over 60 million, even if the 100 million he will offer a price lower than its main competitor?” the expert notes.
in addition, Jonas said that the report “glavkosmos launch services” cost of the Falcon 9 rocket is derived from the commercial launch prices and statements by the leadership of SpaceX. However, the actual cost of components is difficult to call, because SpaceX non-public company and does not disclose its accounts.
“No need to compare the cost of manufacturing and the contract price, they are not always connected. One is production, the other with the market,” said Jonas.
as an example, he cited multiple differences between the cost of the iPhone in the 250-300 US dollars and the price of its sales in the range of 700-1000 dollars. The opposite example is the automotive and aviation markets, where the “fork” between the cost and sales price can be minimal, since the manufacturer obtains a profit from servicing its equipment during the period of the life cycle, said Jonas.
“it is Impossible to deduce the value of the rocket from prices start, at which it is sold” – he stressed.
