The short
- Supply shift: Reuse turns launch into a regular service, easing $/kg over time.
- Bottleneck: Pads, prop load, inspections, range time—ground cadence is the limiter.
- Queue effect: Faster turns clear backlog and pull constellation revenue earlier.
- Risk: More cycles raise wear; quality gates and spares need to scale with flights.
- Tell to watch: sub-two-day intervals at high-throughput sites after pad upgrades.
Reusability is now an industrial story. As boosters refly quickly, launch planning shifts from rare slot to reliable service. Prices drift down as fixed pad hours and crew spread across more flights. Insurance tightens bands. Satellite operators align production to real calendars, not wishful windows.
The real gate: ground ops. Faster propellant load, automated checks, tighter range windows, and recovery ships that turn hardware quickly—all of that drives cadence as much as the rocket itself.
Launch roster — cadence vs cost
| Vehicle | Turnaround target | $ per kg (trend) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Falcon 9 (Block 5) | Weeks per booster; fleet near weekly flights | Low and easing with reuse | High flight count; pad ops and recovery fleet set pace |
| Starship (expanding ops) | Days-to-weeks once pads scale | Aim: step-change down vs Falcon for bulk cargo | Full reuse target; heat-shield wear + ground cadence are key |
| Neutron (in development) | Short intervals after booster recovery | Designed to undercut legacy LEO prices | Ocean recovery plan; mid-class payload focus |
| Terran R (in development) | Weeks with rapid refurb path | Trend lower via composite reuse | Rideshare + constellation focus; large fairing |
| New Glenn (partial reuse path) | Weeks once first-stage reuse stabilizes | Target: competitive for heavy LEO/GTO | Large lift; fairing volume suits big sats |
Why cadence changes the game
- Earlier service dates: Earth-obs, IoT, and broadband constellations hit orbit faster.
- Richer rideshare: Frequent flights enable tighter phasing, less idle inventory.
- Better capital turns: Shorter gaps between launch and revenue boost project IRRs.
What still slows flights
- Pad throughput: prop load speed, hot-fire cadence, automated checkouts.
- Range access: schedules, weather holds, airspace closures.
- Recovery logistics: ship cycles, landing weather, inspection bays, spares.
- Payload flow: slow AIT negates extra slots; integration needs to keep pace.
What to watch: pad and ground-gear upgrades—faster prop loading, more automated inspections, tighter range windows—that drive sub-two-day intervals at high-throughput sites.