SpaceX: Reusable vs Expendable Rockets (2011)
by Anonymous
SpaceX bet on reusable rockets when the entire industry said it was impossible. After multiple failed landings, the Falcon 9 first stage landed successfully in 2015, reducing launch costs by an order of magnitude.
Reusable First Stage
2011-2015
year
$28 million (reused) vs $62M (new)
cost per launch
Impossible — every prior attempt failed
industry consensus
Succeeded — transformed space industry
outcome
Expendable (Industry Standard)
Standard
year
$100-400 million per launch
cost per launch
Proven, reliable
industry consensus
Being replaced by reusable rockets
outcome
Like this comparison? Make it your own.
Sign up to use as templateMore in History
Unicode: One Character Set for All Languages (1987)
Unicode (Universal Encoding) vs Keep Regional Encodings
Treaty of Versailles: Punish or Reconcile Germany (1919)
Harsh Punishment (French Position) vs Moderate Peace (14 Points) vs Break Up Germany
Florence: Medici Banking Innovation (1397)
Financial Innovation (Bills of Exchange) vs Traditional Lending
Emancipation Proclamation: Timing (1862-1863)
Wait for Victory, Then Proclaim vs Immediate Proclamation
Panama Canal: Sea-Level vs Lock Design (1906)
Lock-Based Canal vs Sea-Level Canal
Jamestown vs Plymouth: England's American Strategy (1607-1620)
Jamestown (Commercial Colony) vs Plymouth (Religious Colony)