{
 "id": "space_cost_to_orbit",
 "title": "Cost to orbit",
 "label": "Public data",
 "source": "NASA Technical Reports Server: Jones, H. W. (NASA Ames Research Center), The Recent Large Reduction in Space Launch Cost, ICES-2018-81, and Much Lower Launch Costs Make Resupply Cheaper than Recycling for Space Life Support, ICES-2017-87",
 "source_urls": {
  "paper_2018_record": "https://ntrs.nasa.gov/citations/20200001093",
  "paper_2018_pdf": "https://ntrs.nasa.gov/api/citations/20200001093/downloads/20200001093.pdf",
  "paper_2017_record": "https://ntrs.nasa.gov/citations/20170010337",
  "paper_2017_pdf": "https://ntrs.nasa.gov/api/citations/20170010337/downloads/20170010337.pdf"
 },
 "license": "US government work by a NASA civil servant. The NTRS records state \"GOV_PUBLIC_USE_PERMITTED\" and distribution PUBLIC. NASA asks that the source is credited and implies no endorsement.",
 "credit": "NASA Ames Research Center, H. W. Jones, via the NASA Technical Reports Server (ntrs.nasa.gov), documents 20200001093 and 20170010337.",
 "retrieved": "2026-10-08",
 "period": "Vehicles first launched 1957 to 2018; costs in 2018 dollars",
 "release": "ICES-2018-81, July 2018 (NTRS record distributed Feb 25, 2020); ICES-2017-87, July 2017",
 "unit": "Thousands of 2018 US dollars per kilogram delivered to low Earth orbit ($k/kg), unless a row says ISS",
 "dollar_year": "2018. Paper A converts every cost from its reported year to 2018 dollars with the Consumer Price Index (Appendix A, page 8; page 3). Readings taken from the abstract of paper A and from paper B are shown as reported, without adjustment, and are labelled so.",
 "basis": "Cost per kg to LEO = cost per launch divided by the maximum payload to LEO. The paper says it is the usual approach and that smaller payloads, payload accommodation and limited volume often raise the cost per kg. For commercial vehicles the cost is the advertised price, not the vehicle's cost to its maker, and development cost is not included.",
 "query": "No API. Downloaded both NTRS PDFs and read them with pdftotext -layout. Table A1 (page 8) was parsed into 36 rows; Table A2 (page 8), Table 1 (page 3) and the abstract (page 1) of paper A and Table 1 (page 2) of paper B were parsed from their text. Each row was checked at its page (the expected text and the printed page number), and each cost per kg was recomputed from its cost per launch and payload (tolerance 0.2 percent, because the published $M costs are rounded). The paper's own text claims were recomputed from Table A1.",
 "caveat": "These are a 2018 snapshot compiled by one NASA engineer, not a NASA cost audit. Costs per launch for older vehicles come from other compilations (Koelle 1991, Wertz and Larson 1996, Futron 2002 and others; each row names its reference), and for the Falcons and Saturn V from SpaceX's advertised prices and a news article. Cost per kg divides by the maximum payload, so a launch that flies lighter costs more per kg. Commercial prices and government costs are different things. The paper's Table A1 caption says current dollars while its text and Table A2 say 2018 dollars; they are the same figures. No later vehicle (Starship, SLS) is covered, because no NASA table of cost per kg for them was found in the public-domain record, and prices have changed since 2018. The shuttle figure depends on which cost and which payload are used, which is why the page shows the range.",
 "latest": {
  "vehicles": 36,
  "last_first_launch_year": 2018
 },
 "headline": {
  "falcon_9_usd_k_per_kg": 2.7,
  "falcon_9_table_a2": 2.72,
  "falcon_heavy_usd_k_per_kg": 1.41,
  "shuttle_usd_k_per_kg": 61.72,
  "saturn_v_usd_k_per_kg": 5.2,
  "vanguard_usd_k_per_kg": 894.7,
  "shuttle_to_falcon_9_factor": 22.7,
  "shuttle_to_falcon_9_factor_from_table_a1": 22.9,
  "shuttle_to_falcon_9_factor_stated_in_paper": 23,
  "iss_shuttle_usd_k_per_kg": 105.8,
  "iss_falcon9_dragon_usd_k_per_kg": 25.0,
  "iss_factor": 4.2,
  "vanguard_to_saturn_v_factor": 172.0
 },
 "shuttle_leo_range_usd_k_per_kg": {
  "low": 54.5,
  "high": 75.0,
  "high_over_low": 1.38
 },
 "era_1970_2000": {
  "systems": 22,
  "mean_usd_k_per_kg": 18.64,
  "paper_text_says_mean": 18.5,
  "paper_text_says_below_10": 7,
  "table_a1_below_10": 5,
  "below_10_names": [
   "Dnepr",
   "Long March 2E",
   "Long March 3B",
   "Zenit 2",
   "Zenit 3SL"
  ],
  "above_32_names": [
   "Pegasus XL",
   "Space shuttle"
  ],
  "falcon_9_reduction_factor": 6.9,
  "falcon_heavy_reduction_factor": 13.2
 },
 "cheapest_five": [
  {
   "system": "Falcon Heavy",
   "usd_k_per_kg_2018": 1.4
  },
  {
   "system": "Falcon 9",
   "usd_k_per_kg_2018": 2.7
  },
  {
   "system": "Proton SL-13",
   "usd_k_per_kg_2018": 4.1
  },
  {
   "system": "Zenit 2",
   "usd_k_per_kg_2018": 4.4
  },
  {
   "system": "Dnepr",
   "usd_k_per_kg_2018": 4.9
  }
 ],
 "systems": [
  {
   "system": "Vanguard",
   "first_launch_year": 1957,
   "usd_k_per_kg_2018": 894.7,
   "reference_cited_by_paper": "Koelle, 1991",
   "cite": {
    "document": "Jones, H. W., The Recent Large Reduction in Space Launch Cost, ICES-2018-81, NASA Ames Research Center",
    "ntrs_id": "20200001093",
    "url": "https://ntrs.nasa.gov/citations/20200001093",
    "table": "Table A1",
    "page": 8
   }
  },
  {
   "system": "Delta E",
   "first_launch_year": 1960,
   "usd_k_per_kg_2018": 167.8,
   "reference_cited_by_paper": "Koelle, 1991",
   "cite": {
    "document": "Jones, H. W., The Recent Large Reduction in Space Launch Cost, ICES-2018-81, NASA Ames Research Center",
    "ntrs_id": "20200001093",
    "url": "https://ntrs.nasa.gov/citations/20200001093",
    "table": "Table A1",
    "page": 8
   }
  },
  {
   "system": "Scout",
   "first_launch_year": 1961,
   "usd_k_per_kg_2018": 111.8,
   "reference_cited_by_paper": "Koelle, 1991",
   "cite": {
    "document": "Jones, H. W., The Recent Large Reduction in Space Launch Cost, ICES-2018-81, NASA Ames Research Center",
    "ntrs_id": "20200001093",
    "url": "https://ntrs.nasa.gov/citations/20200001093",
    "table": "Table A1",
    "page": 8
   }
  },
  {
   "system": "Titan II",
   "first_launch_year": 1962,
   "usd_k_per_kg_2018": 31.0,
   "reference_cited_by_paper": "Wertz and Larson, 1996",
   "cite": {
    "document": "Jones, H. W., The Recent Large Reduction in Space Launch Cost, ICES-2018-81, NASA Ames Research Center",
    "ntrs_id": "20200001093",
    "url": "https://ntrs.nasa.gov/citations/20200001093",
    "table": "Table A1",
    "page": 8
   }
  },
  {
   "system": "Atlas-Centaur",
   "first_launch_year": 1964,
   "usd_k_per_kg_2018": 28.0,
   "reference_cited_by_paper": "Koelle, 1991",
   "cite": {
    "document": "Jones, H. W., The Recent Large Reduction in Space Launch Cost, ICES-2018-81, NASA Ames Research Center",
    "ntrs_id": "20200001093",
    "url": "https://ntrs.nasa.gov/citations/20200001093",
    "table": "Table A1",
    "page": 8
   }
  },
  {
   "system": "Proton SL-13",
   "first_launch_year": 1965,
   "usd_k_per_kg_2018": 4.1,
   "reference_cited_by_paper": "Wertz and Larson, 1996",
   "cite": {
    "document": "Jones, H. W., The Recent Large Reduction in Space Launch Cost, ICES-2018-81, NASA Ames Research Center",
    "ntrs_id": "20200001093",
    "url": "https://ntrs.nasa.gov/citations/20200001093",
    "table": "Table A1",
    "page": 8
   }
  },
  {
   "system": "Saturn IB",
   "first_launch_year": 1966,
   "usd_k_per_kg_2018": 17.3,
   "reference_cited_by_paper": "Koelle, 1991",
   "cite": {
    "document": "Jones, H. W., The Recent Large Reduction in Space Launch Cost, ICES-2018-81, NASA Ames Research Center",
    "ntrs_id": "20200001093",
    "url": "https://ntrs.nasa.gov/citations/20200001093",
    "table": "Table A1",
    "page": 8
   }
  },
  {
   "system": "Soyuz",
   "first_launch_year": 1966,
   "usd_k_per_kg_2018": 7.6,
   "reference_cited_by_paper": "Futron, 2002",
   "cite": {
    "document": "Jones, H. W., The Recent Large Reduction in Space Launch Cost, ICES-2018-81, NASA Ames Research Center",
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    "url": "https://ntrs.nasa.gov/citations/20200001093",
    "table": "Table A1",
    "page": 8
   }
  },
  {
   "system": "Cosmos",
   "first_launch_year": 1967,
   "usd_k_per_kg_2018": 12.4,
   "reference_cited_by_paper": "Futron, 2002",
   "cite": {
    "document": "Jones, H. W., The Recent Large Reduction in Space Launch Cost, ICES-2018-81, NASA Ames Research Center",
    "ntrs_id": "20200001093",
    "url": "https://ntrs.nasa.gov/citations/20200001093",
    "table": "Table A1",
    "page": 8
   }
  },
  {
   "system": "Kosmos",
   "first_launch_year": 1967,
   "usd_k_per_kg_2018": 8.0,
   "reference_cited_by_paper": "Wikipedia, Comparison, 2018",
   "cite": {
    "document": "Jones, H. W., The Recent Large Reduction in Space Launch Cost, ICES-2018-81, NASA Ames Research Center",
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    "url": "https://ntrs.nasa.gov/citations/20200001093",
    "table": "Table A1",
    "page": 8
   }
  },
  {
   "system": "Saturn V",
   "first_launch_year": 1968,
   "usd_k_per_kg_2018": 5.2,
   "reference_cited_by_paper": "Williams, 2016",
   "cite": {
    "document": "Jones, H. W., The Recent Large Reduction in Space Launch Cost, ICES-2018-81, NASA Ames Research Center",
    "ntrs_id": "20200001093",
    "url": "https://ntrs.nasa.gov/citations/20200001093",
    "table": "Table A1",
    "page": 8
   }
  },
  {
   "system": "Long March 2E",
   "first_launch_year": 1971,
   "usd_k_per_kg_2018": 7.7,
   "reference_cited_by_paper": "Wertz and Larson, 1996",
   "cite": {
    "document": "Jones, H. W., The Recent Large Reduction in Space Launch Cost, ICES-2018-81, NASA Ames Research Center",
    "ntrs_id": "20200001093",
    "url": "https://ntrs.nasa.gov/citations/20200001093",
    "table": "Table A1",
    "page": 8
   }
  },
  {
   "system": "Long March 2C",
   "first_launch_year": 1974,
   "usd_k_per_kg_2018": 10.0,
   "reference_cited_by_paper": "Futron, 2002",
   "cite": {
    "document": "Jones, H. W., The Recent Large Reduction in Space Launch Cost, ICES-2018-81, NASA Ames Research Center",
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    "url": "https://ntrs.nasa.gov/citations/20200001093",
    "table": "Table A1",
    "page": 8
   }
  },
  {
   "system": "Titan-Centaur",
   "first_launch_year": 1974,
   "usd_k_per_kg_2018": 11.2,
   "reference_cited_by_paper": "Koelle, 1991",
   "cite": {
    "document": "Jones, H. W., The Recent Large Reduction in Space Launch Cost, ICES-2018-81, NASA Ames Research Center",
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    "url": "https://ntrs.nasa.gov/citations/20200001093",
    "table": "Table A1",
    "page": 8
   }
  },
  {
   "system": "Delta 3910",
   "first_launch_year": 1975,
   "usd_k_per_kg_2018": 28.0,
   "reference_cited_by_paper": "Koelle, 1991",
   "cite": {
    "document": "Jones, H. W., The Recent Large Reduction in Space Launch Cost, ICES-2018-81, NASA Ames Research Center",
    "ntrs_id": "20200001093",
    "url": "https://ntrs.nasa.gov/citations/20200001093",
    "table": "Table A1",
    "page": 8
   }
  },
  {
   "system": "Space shuttle",
   "first_launch_year": 1981,
   "usd_k_per_kg_2018": 61.7,
   "reference_cited_by_paper": "Pielke and Byerly, 2011",
   "cite": {
    "document": "Jones, H. W., The Recent Large Reduction in Space Launch Cost, ICES-2018-81, NASA Ames Research Center",
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    "url": "https://ntrs.nasa.gov/citations/20200001093",
    "table": "Table A1",
    "page": 8
   }
  },
  {
   "system": "Long March 3B",
   "first_launch_year": 1984,
   "usd_k_per_kg_2018": 6.3,
   "reference_cited_by_paper": "Futron, 2002",
   "cite": {
    "document": "Jones, H. W., The Recent Large Reduction in Space Launch Cost, ICES-2018-81, NASA Ames Research Center",
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    "url": "https://ntrs.nasa.gov/citations/20200001093",
    "table": "Table A1",
    "page": 8
   }
  },
  {
   "system": "Zenit 2",
   "first_launch_year": 1985,
   "usd_k_per_kg_2018": 4.4,
   "reference_cited_by_paper": "Futron, 2002",
   "cite": {
    "document": "Jones, H. W., The Recent Large Reduction in Space Launch Cost, ICES-2018-81, NASA Ames Research Center",
    "ntrs_id": "20200001093",
    "url": "https://ntrs.nasa.gov/citations/20200001093",
    "table": "Table A1",
    "page": 8
   }
  },
  {
   "system": "Ariane 44",
   "first_launch_year": 1988,
   "usd_k_per_kg_2018": 17.9,
   "reference_cited_by_paper": "Wertz and Larson, 1996",
   "cite": {
    "document": "Jones, H. W., The Recent Large Reduction in Space Launch Cost, ICES-2018-81, NASA Ames Research Center",
    "ntrs_id": "20200001093",
    "url": "https://ntrs.nasa.gov/citations/20200001093",
    "table": "Table A1",
    "page": 8
   }
  },
  {
   "system": "Delta II",
   "first_launch_year": 1989,
   "usd_k_per_kg_2018": 15.3,
   "reference_cited_by_paper": "Futron, 2002",
   "cite": {
    "document": "Jones, H. W., The Recent Large Reduction in Space Launch Cost, ICES-2018-81, NASA Ames Research Center",
    "ntrs_id": "20200001093",
    "url": "https://ntrs.nasa.gov/citations/20200001093",
    "table": "Table A1",
    "page": 8
   }
  },
  {
   "system": "Taurus",
   "first_launch_year": 1989,
   "usd_k_per_kg_2018": 20.4,
   "reference_cited_by_paper": "Wertz and Larson, 1996",
   "cite": {
    "document": "Jones, H. W., The Recent Large Reduction in Space Launch Cost, ICES-2018-81, NASA Ames Research Center",
    "ntrs_id": "20200001093",
    "url": "https://ntrs.nasa.gov/citations/20200001093",
    "table": "Table A1",
    "page": 8
   }
  },
  {
   "system": "Titan IV",
   "first_launch_year": 1989,
   "usd_k_per_kg_2018": 24.7,
   "reference_cited_by_paper": "Wertz and Larson, 1996",
   "cite": {
    "document": "Jones, H. W., The Recent Large Reduction in Space Launch Cost, ICES-2018-81, NASA Ames Research Center",
    "ntrs_id": "20200001093",
    "url": "https://ntrs.nasa.gov/citations/20200001093",
    "table": "Table A1",
    "page": 8
   }
  },
  {
   "system": "Pegasus XL",
   "first_launch_year": 1990,
   "usd_k_per_kg_2018": 43.5,
   "reference_cited_by_paper": "Futron, 2002",
   "cite": {
    "document": "Jones, H. W., The Recent Large Reduction in Space Launch Cost, ICES-2018-81, NASA Ames Research Center",
    "ntrs_id": "20200001093",
    "url": "https://ntrs.nasa.gov/citations/20200001093",
    "table": "Table A1",
    "page": 8
   }
  },
  {
   "system": "Atlas IIA",
   "first_launch_year": 1991,
   "usd_k_per_kg_2018": 19.8,
   "reference_cited_by_paper": "Wertz and Larson, 1996",
   "cite": {
    "document": "Jones, H. W., The Recent Large Reduction in Space Launch Cost, ICES-2018-81, NASA Ames Research Center",
    "ntrs_id": "20200001093",
    "url": "https://ntrs.nasa.gov/citations/20200001093",
    "table": "Table A1",
    "page": 8
   }
  },
  {
   "system": "Start",
   "first_launch_year": 1993,
   "usd_k_per_kg_2018": 16.7,
   "reference_cited_by_paper": "Futron, 2002",
   "cite": {
    "document": "Jones, H. W., The Recent Large Reduction in Space Launch Cost, ICES-2018-81, NASA Ames Research Center",
    "ntrs_id": "20200001093",
    "url": "https://ntrs.nasa.gov/citations/20200001093",
    "table": "Table A1",
    "page": 8
   }
  },
  {
   "system": "H-2",
   "first_launch_year": 1994,
   "usd_k_per_kg_2018": 26.4,
   "reference_cited_by_paper": "Wertz and Larson, 1996",
   "cite": {
    "document": "Jones, H. W., The Recent Large Reduction in Space Launch Cost, ICES-2018-81, NASA Ames Research Center",
    "ntrs_id": "20200001093",
    "url": "https://ntrs.nasa.gov/citations/20200001093",
    "table": "Table A1",
    "page": 8
   }
  },
  {
   "system": "Rockot",
   "first_launch_year": 1994,
   "usd_k_per_kg_2018": 10.4,
   "reference_cited_by_paper": "Futron, 2002",
   "cite": {
    "document": "Jones, H. W., The Recent Large Reduction in Space Launch Cost, ICES-2018-81, NASA Ames Research Center",
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    "url": "https://ntrs.nasa.gov/citations/20200001093",
    "table": "Table A1",
    "page": 8
   }
  },
  {
   "system": "Athena 1",
   "first_launch_year": 1995,
   "usd_k_per_kg_2018": 31.7,
   "reference_cited_by_paper": "Wertz and Larson, 1996",
   "cite": {
    "document": "Jones, H. W., The Recent Large Reduction in Space Launch Cost, ICES-2018-81, NASA Ames Research Center",
    "ntrs_id": "20200001093",
    "url": "https://ntrs.nasa.gov/citations/20200001093",
    "table": "Table A1",
    "page": 8
   }
  },
  {
   "system": "Athena 2",
   "first_launch_year": 1995,
   "usd_k_per_kg_2018": 16.6,
   "reference_cited_by_paper": "Futron, 2002",
   "cite": {
    "document": "Jones, H. W., The Recent Large Reduction in Space Launch Cost, ICES-2018-81, NASA Ames Research Center",
    "ntrs_id": "20200001093",
    "url": "https://ntrs.nasa.gov/citations/20200001093",
    "table": "Table A1",
    "page": 8
   }
  },
  {
   "system": "Ariane 5G",
   "first_launch_year": 1996,
   "usd_k_per_kg_2018": 13.1,
   "reference_cited_by_paper": "Futron, 2002",
   "cite": {
    "document": "Jones, H. W., The Recent Large Reduction in Space Launch Cost, ICES-2018-81, NASA Ames Research Center",
    "ntrs_id": "20200001093",
    "url": "https://ntrs.nasa.gov/citations/20200001093",
    "table": "Table A1",
    "page": 8
   }
  },
  {
   "system": "Delta III",
   "first_launch_year": 1998,
   "usd_k_per_kg_2018": 11.7,
   "reference_cited_by_paper": "Koelle, 1991",
   "cite": {
    "document": "Jones, H. W., The Recent Large Reduction in Space Launch Cost, ICES-2018-81, NASA Ames Research Center",
    "ntrs_id": "20200001093",
    "url": "https://ntrs.nasa.gov/citations/20200001093",
    "table": "Table A1",
    "page": 8
   }
  },
  {
   "system": "Dnepr",
   "first_launch_year": 1999,
   "usd_k_per_kg_2018": 4.9,
   "reference_cited_by_paper": "Futron, 2002",
   "cite": {
    "document": "Jones, H. W., The Recent Large Reduction in Space Launch Cost, ICES-2018-81, NASA Ames Research Center",
    "ntrs_id": "20200001093",
    "url": "https://ntrs.nasa.gov/citations/20200001093",
    "table": "Table A1",
    "page": 8
   }
  },
  {
   "system": "Zenit 3SL",
   "first_launch_year": 1999,
   "usd_k_per_kg_2018": 7.6,
   "reference_cited_by_paper": "Futron, 2002",
   "cite": {
    "document": "Jones, H. W., The Recent Large Reduction in Space Launch Cost, ICES-2018-81, NASA Ames Research Center",
    "ntrs_id": "20200001093",
    "url": "https://ntrs.nasa.gov/citations/20200001093",
    "table": "Table A1",
    "page": 8
   }
  },
  {
   "system": "Falcon 9",
   "first_launch_year": 2010,
   "usd_k_per_kg_2018": 2.7,
   "reference_cited_by_paper": "SpaceX.com, 2018",
   "cite": {
    "document": "Jones, H. W., The Recent Large Reduction in Space Launch Cost, ICES-2018-81, NASA Ames Research Center",
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    "url": "https://ntrs.nasa.gov/citations/20200001093",
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   }
  },
  {
   "system": "Vega",
   "first_launch_year": 2012,
   "usd_k_per_kg_2018": 10.0,
   "reference_cited_by_paper": "Wikipedia, Comparison, 2018",
   "cite": {
    "document": "Jones, H. W., The Recent Large Reduction in Space Launch Cost, ICES-2018-81, NASA Ames Research Center",
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    "url": "https://ntrs.nasa.gov/citations/20200001093",
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   }
  },
  {
   "system": "Falcon Heavy",
   "first_launch_year": 2018,
   "usd_k_per_kg_2018": 1.4,
   "reference_cited_by_paper": "SpaceX.com, 2018",
   "cite": {
    "document": "Jones, H. W., The Recent Large Reduction in Space Launch Cost, ICES-2018-81, NASA Ames Research Center",
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 ],
 "table_a2": [
  {
   "system": "Saturn V",
   "kg_to_leo": 140000,
   "cost_per_launch_2018_musd": 728.0,
   "usd_k_per_kg_2018": 5.2,
   "recomputed_usd_k_per_kg": 5.2,
   "cite": {
    "document": "Jones, H. W., The Recent Large Reduction in Space Launch Cost, ICES-2018-81, NASA Ames Research Center",
    "ntrs_id": "20200001093",
    "url": "https://ntrs.nasa.gov/citations/20200001093",
    "table": "Table A2",
    "page": 8
   }
  },
  {
   "system": "Space shuttle",
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   "cost_per_launch_2018_musd": 1697.0,
   "usd_k_per_kg_2018": 61.72,
   "recomputed_usd_k_per_kg": 61.71,
   "cite": {
    "document": "Jones, H. W., The Recent Large Reduction in Space Launch Cost, ICES-2018-81, NASA Ames Research Center",
    "ntrs_id": "20200001093",
    "url": "https://ntrs.nasa.gov/citations/20200001093",
    "table": "Table A2",
    "page": 8
   }
  },
  {
   "system": "Falcon 9",
   "kg_to_leo": 22800,
   "cost_per_launch_2018_musd": 62.0,
   "usd_k_per_kg_2018": 2.72,
   "recomputed_usd_k_per_kg": 2.72,
   "cite": {
    "document": "Jones, H. W., The Recent Large Reduction in Space Launch Cost, ICES-2018-81, NASA Ames Research Center",
    "ntrs_id": "20200001093",
    "url": "https://ntrs.nasa.gov/citations/20200001093",
    "table": "Table A2",
    "page": 8
   }
  },
  {
   "system": "Falcon Heavy",
   "kg_to_leo": 63800,
   "cost_per_launch_2018_musd": 90.0,
   "usd_k_per_kg_2018": 1.41,
   "recomputed_usd_k_per_kg": 1.41,
   "cite": {
    "document": "Jones, H. W., The Recent Large Reduction in Space Launch Cost, ICES-2018-81, NASA Ames Research Center",
    "ntrs_id": "20200001093",
    "url": "https://ntrs.nasa.gov/citations/20200001093",
    "table": "Table A2",
    "page": 8
   }
  }
 ],
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   "system": "Space shuttle",
   "cost_per_launch_2018_musd": 1697.0,
   "kg_to_iss": 16050,
   "usd_k_per_kg_2018": 105.8,
   "recomputed_usd_k_per_kg": 105.73,
   "cite": {
    "document": "Jones, H. W., The Recent Large Reduction in Space Launch Cost, ICES-2018-81, NASA Ames Research Center",
    "ntrs_id": "20200001093",
    "url": "https://ntrs.nasa.gov/citations/20200001093",
    "table": "Table 1",
    "page": 3
   }
  },
  {
   "system": "Falcon 9 plus Dragon",
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   "kg_to_iss": 6000,
   "usd_k_per_kg_2018": 25.0,
   "recomputed_usd_k_per_kg": 25.0,
   "cite": {
    "document": "Jones, H. W., The Recent Large Reduction in Space Launch Cost, ICES-2018-81, NASA Ames Research Center",
    "ntrs_id": "20200001093",
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    "table": "Table 1",
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   "vehicle": "Space shuttle",
   "destination": "LEO",
   "usd_k_per_kg": 54.5,
   "label": "Shuttle to LEO, abstract of the 2018 paper",
   "cost_musd": 1500.0,
   "payload_kg": 27500,
   "basis": "Cost per launch as the paper reports it (about $1.5 billion), no inflation adjustment; payload is the shuttle's 27,500 kg to LEO.",
   "cite": {
    "document": "Jones, H. W., The Recent Large Reduction in Space Launch Cost, ICES-2018-81, NASA Ames Research Center",
    "ntrs_id": "20200001093",
    "url": "https://ntrs.nasa.gov/citations/20200001093",
    "table": "Abstract (no table)",
    "page": 1
   },
   "recomputed_usd_k_per_kg": 54.55
  },
  {
   "id": "shuttle_leo_a2",
   "vehicle": "Space shuttle",
   "destination": "LEO",
   "usd_k_per_kg": 61.72,
   "label": "Shuttle to LEO, Table A2 of the 2018 paper",
   "cost_musd": 1697.0,
   "payload_kg": 27500,
   "basis": "Cost per launch converted to 2018 dollars with the CPI; payload 27,500 kg to LEO.",
   "cite": {
    "document": "Jones, H. W., The Recent Large Reduction in Space Launch Cost, ICES-2018-81, NASA Ames Research Center",
    "ntrs_id": "20200001093",
    "url": "https://ntrs.nasa.gov/citations/20200001093",
    "table": "Table A2",
    "page": 8
   },
   "recomputed_usd_k_per_kg": 61.71
  },
  {
   "id": "shuttle_leo_b",
   "vehicle": "Space shuttle",
   "destination": "LEO",
   "usd_k_per_kg": 75.0,
   "label": "Shuttle to LEO, Table 1 of the 2017 paper",
   "cost_musd": 1200.0,
   "payload_kg": 16000,
   "basis": "Cost per launch of $1,200 million (the paper cites Pielke and Byerly, 2011), no dollar year stated; payload 16,000 kg, the shuttle's capacity to the ISS, not its 27,500 kg to LEO.",
   "cite": {
    "document": "Jones, H. W., Much Lower Launch Costs Make Resupply Cheaper than Recycling for Space Life Support, ICES-2017-87, NASA Ames Research Center",
    "ntrs_id": "20170010337",
    "url": "https://ntrs.nasa.gov/citations/20170010337",
    "table": "Table 1",
    "page": 2
   },
   "recomputed_usd_k_per_kg": 75.0
  },
  {
   "id": "f9_leo_abstract",
   "vehicle": "Falcon 9",
   "destination": "LEO",
   "usd_k_per_kg": 2.72,
   "label": "Falcon 9 to LEO, abstract of the 2018 paper",
   "cost_musd": 62.0,
   "payload_kg": 22800,
   "basis": "SpaceX's advertised price of $62 million for 22,800 kg to LEO (a price, as advertised in 2018, not NASA's cost).",
   "cite": {
    "document": "Jones, H. W., The Recent Large Reduction in Space Launch Cost, ICES-2018-81, NASA Ames Research Center",
    "ntrs_id": "20200001093",
    "url": "https://ntrs.nasa.gov/citations/20200001093",
    "table": "Abstract (no table)",
    "page": 1
   },
   "recomputed_usd_k_per_kg": 2.72
  },
  {
   "id": "f9_leo_a2",
   "vehicle": "Falcon 9",
   "destination": "LEO",
   "usd_k_per_kg": 2.72,
   "label": "Falcon 9 to LEO, Table A2 of the 2018 paper",
   "cost_musd": 62.0,
   "payload_kg": 22800,
   "basis": "Same $62 million and 22,800 kg, stated in 2018 dollars.",
   "cite": {
    "document": "Jones, H. W., The Recent Large Reduction in Space Launch Cost, ICES-2018-81, NASA Ames Research Center",
    "ntrs_id": "20200001093",
    "url": "https://ntrs.nasa.gov/citations/20200001093",
    "table": "Table A2",
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   "payload_kg": 22800,
   "basis": "Same $62 million and 22,800 kg.",
   "cite": {
    "document": "Jones, H. W., Much Lower Launch Costs Make Resupply Cheaper than Recycling for Space Life Support, ICES-2017-87, NASA Ames Research Center",
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   "payload_kg": 16050,
   "basis": "About $1.5 billion as reported, no inflation adjustment; 16,050 kg to the ISS.",
   "cite": {
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   "basis": "$1,697 million in 2018 dollars; 16,050 kg to the ISS.",
   "cite": {
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   "basis": "About $140 million as reported, no inflation adjustment; 6,000 kg to the ISS.",
   "cite": {
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