The era of reusable rockets in space: costs fell, launches soared

Reusable rocket technology has reduced unit costs in space transportation while increasing global launch numbers and the number of satellites sent into orbit. The success of US-based SpaceX and China's Long March 10B has taken the competition to a new level.

Scraper SystemJuly 11, 2026, 09:59 PM

The era of reusable rockets in space: costs fell, launches soared

The high costs and production speed of traditional single-use rockets were the most significant factors limiting space activities. However, reusable rocket technology has broken these barriers and changed the course of the global space race. SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket, with its first successful vertical landing in 2015, became the pioneer of this revolution, dramatically lowering launch costs.

While a single launch with traditional rockets could cost up to 160 million dollars, the reusable first stage of Falcon 9 brought that figure down to approximately 67 million dollars. The cost of transporting cargo to orbit dropped from 10,000 dollars per kilogram to 2,500 dollars. According to NASA data, reuse in Crew Dragon missions saved over 500 million dollars.

Boom in launch and satellite numbers

The cost advantage and the ability to prepare the first stage for reflight in just 21 days increased the frequency of launches. In 2025, a total of 325 launches were conducted worldwide, 296 of them commercial, and 4,434 satellites were placed into orbit. The number of satellites increased by 65 percent compared to the previous year; the number of active satellites in orbit reached 14,266.

In the global launch market, SpaceX's share was 22 percent in 2020 and rose to 50 percent by the end of 2025. The US, leveraging the company's reusable technology advantage, surpassed China in total launches in 2022 and widened the gap. In 2025, the US carried out 55 percent of all launches, while China's share remained at 28 percent.

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China's Long March 10B push

Falling behind the US, China accelerated its investments in reusable rockets. Although private and state companies have been conducting vertical landing tests since 2016, the desired success was not achieved. The first successful controlled landing and recovery capable of competing with Falcon 9 came with the Long March 10B rocket launched on July 10. The rocket, belonging to the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC), was launched from the Wenchang launch site in Hainan province.

Unlike SpaceX's leg mechanism, the Long March 10B was caught by a cable-net system stretched over a floating platform in the South China Sea. This method eliminates the weight of landing gear on the rocket, providing greater fuel efficiency and payload capacity. Experts assess that the capture system could offer a significant alternative, especially for small and medium payloads.

Europe and India are also preparing for the race

The competition for reusable rocket technology is not limited to just two countries. India aims to conduct its first vertical landing tests under the ADMIRE program in 2027. The European Space Agency (ESA) plans the first vertical takeoff and landing test of its THEMIS demonstrator this year, while the Japan-France-Germany joint project CALLISTO is expected to make its first flight from French Guiana in 2026.

Experts state that reusable rockets are democratizing access to space, paving the way for commercial satellite launches and scientific missions. As the technology becomes more widespread, it is also expected to offer solutions to the space debris problem.

The era of reusable rockets in space: costs fell, launches soared