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DooKey
[H]F Junkie
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A recent report from the NASA IG reveals that future ISS cargo costs are going to increase and the amount of cargo delivered is going to decrease. This is the result of SpaceX raising their launch prices by 50 percent and NASA selecting three suppliers instead of two causing each competitor to have fewer launches over the lifetime of the contract. As a matter of fact it appears that SpaceX is losing their cost advantage to Orbital ATK. However, costs are still down compared to previous years thanks to private companies stepping up with new technology and the taxpayer is still getting great bang for the buck.
One reason for that, the report said, is that SpaceX redesigned the Dragon 2 capsule to increase cargo volume by 30 percent, run longer missions and give NASA quicker access to scientific samples returning to Earth. It also seems that SpaceX may have been undercharging for its services. "They also indicated that their CRS-2 pricing reflected a better understanding of the costs involved after several years of experience with cargo resupply missions," the report stated.
One reason for that, the report said, is that SpaceX redesigned the Dragon 2 capsule to increase cargo volume by 30 percent, run longer missions and give NASA quicker access to scientific samples returning to Earth. It also seems that SpaceX may have been undercharging for its services. "They also indicated that their CRS-2 pricing reflected a better understanding of the costs involved after several years of experience with cargo resupply missions," the report stated.