Despite the rise of reusable rockets and increased access to space, NASA is paying more for launch services now than it did 30 years ago. A study indicates that high demand from various sectors, including military missions and commercial satellite launches, is driving up costs, even as SpaceX maintains a robust launch schedule.

Starship's scale and reusability significantly reduce launch costs to approximately $60/kg, enhancing the economics of satellite deployment when combined with V3 satellites that offer higher bandwidth. This transformation leads to a potential 40-50 times reduction in costs per Gbps, thereby reshaping the space industry and enabling more efficient payload capabilities. With ongoing advancements, costs could further decline to $10-20/kg by the 2030s.