🚀 go-pugleaf

I *knew* that my assertion would catch your attention.
 
The Space Shuttle is the most expensive launch vehicle (per pound in orbit)
that exists today. I believe this, but cannot prove it.
 
The "official" NASA budget line item for the shuttle operation does not
include all shuttle-related expenses. During the 1990 authorization process,
Richard Truly was asked how much of NASA's budget went towards the shuttle -
his response was "about two thirds". Since NASA's budget then was about $14
million, it isn't hard to imagine shuttle launches at over $1 billion a pop.
 
Using a 50,000 lb. payload for the Shuttle to calculate its cost per pound
does not take into consideration the trivial fact that the Shuttle never
carries 50,000 lbs into orbit. Maximum payload weight for a safe abort is
40,000 lbs, and the shuttle rarely carries that much weight.
 
Finally, all of these figures ignore the development and construction costs of 
the shuttles. Figure those in, and you get an average launch cost of $1.67
billion per pop.
 
I'm sure that Pegasus' launch costs are much lower than the Shuttle's all
things considered.
 
However, I freely that I hold this opinion largely on the basis of a gut
feeling, rather than the available numbers.

--- Maximus 2.01wb