The 5 Most Expensive Rockets in the World

The Most Expensive Rocket: Who Burns Billions at Launch?

Did you know? The cost of a single rocket launch could be higher than building a skyscraper. Space exploration has always been expensive, but how "expensive" exactly is it? Let's find out who is investing such huge sums in launches, even making oligarchs nervous.

No. 5 — "Ariane-5": Europe's Heavyweight

When Europe decided to make its mark in the space industry, it spared no expense. "Ariane-5" is the pride of the European Space Agency (ESA), with a single launch cost of approximately $165 million. With this money, you could buy several Boeing airplanes... or a rocket that can send satellites and dreams into space.

Interestingly, this rocket almost always launches as planned. Reliability, after all, never comes cheap.

No. 4 — "Falcon Heavy": Even Musk Thinks It's Expensive?

Even if you're not familiar with the rocket industry, you've probably heard the name "Falcon Heavy." It was this rocket that sent a Tesla car into space. Its launch cost ranges between $150 million and $500 million, depending on the payload weight and the client's specific requirements.

Musk's "secret weapon" is the rocket's reusability — the rocket boosters can return to Earth and be reused for future launches after processing. In theory, this should reduce costs, but in practice... it seems more like a spectacular "show" rather than a real breakthrough in economics. However, the spectacle is indeed impressive.

No. 3 — "Space Launch System" (SLS): NASA and the "Budget King"

"Space Launch System" (SLS) is no ordinary rocket; it's a massive project — so far, its development has cost over $20 billion, and it continues to add new large expenses to NASA's financial statements.

What's the cost per launch? Over $2 billion. Is that surprising? Yes, launching this rocket alone costs that much. Its design goal is to send humans to Mars (maybe one day), but for now, it's more like "burning" the budget.

No. 2 — "Angara-A5": Russia's Expensive Pride

Russia never fails to surprise, not only in diplomacy but also in the space industry. "Angara-A5" is a heavy-lift rocket, with development taking nearly 20 years and a single launch cost of about $100 million to $250 million. The cost range varies significantly due to differences in the rocket's specific configuration.

A major highlight of this rocket is its use of environmentally friendly fuel and its ability to launch from multiple spaceports, offering maximum flexibility. However, it has not yet launched many times.

No. 1 — "Starship": Musk's Space Expedition

The situation with "Starship" is more complex. So far, SpaceX has invested over $10 billion in the development of this rocket, and that's just the beginning. Although complete launch missions are still in testing, its goals are ambitious — sending humans to Mars and enabling round-trip travel.

As a giant reusable rocket made entirely of stainless steel, "Starship" is positioned like the "iPhone of space," except it weighs 1,200 tons and can't fit in your pocket. Theoretically, its cost per launch may decrease in the future, but for now, it remains an expensive "luxury project."

Is It Worth It?

"Is this necessary? We haven't even fixed our roads yet!" — Such criticism is not without merit. But technological progress has always been "selfish," never asking for permission in advance, but instead rushing forward "into space"... while burning billions of dollars.

So, the next time you see news about a rocket launch, remember: every bright ascent in the night sky is backed by cutting-edge technology, political considerations, human ambition — and countless amounts of money.

If you had $1 billion, what would you choose to send into space?

Original article: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7576506434289025545/

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