By what factor did SpaceX reduce the cost of developing a rocket comparable to the Falcon 9 compared to NASA's estimate?
Answer
A factor of more than ten
NASA estimated developing a comparable rocket system would cost around $4 billion, whereas SpaceX achieved a comparable capability for an estimated total investment of roughly $390 million across the Falcon 1 and Falcon 9 programs, resulting in a cost differential exceeding a factor of ten.

Related Questions
What is the core ambition driving Elon Musk’s involvement in space exploration?What initial hypothesis was foundational to SpaceX’s success in drastically cutting launch expenses?By what factor did SpaceX reduce the cost of developing a rocket comparable to the Falcon 9 compared to NASA's estimate?What critical technological achievement proved the viability of SpaceX’s cost-reduction model?What entity is explicitly designated as the contemporary financial engine intended to fund Starship development?What type of propellant is Starship designed to use, which connects directly to Martian colonization plans?What is the target payload capacity of the Starship system when operating in a fully reusable mode to LEO?What historic milestone did SpaceX achieve in 2020 related to human spaceflight?What is the primary purpose of the Starlink subsidiary?What is the ultimate goal that defines the long-term success metric for Elon Musk's vision?What is the stated function of the specialized military counterpart constellation named Starshield?