What is the massive long-term budgetary implication if agencies secure reliable transport for substantially less money per astronaut?
Answer
It enables greater long-term sustainability for continuous human spaceflight presence.
The ability for agencies or commercial entities to secure human spaceflight access at a substantially reduced cost per astronaut has profound implications for the future funding and continuation of space exploration efforts. When the cost per kilogram to orbit—a key metric for sustainability—is driven down by reusable hardware, it alleviates significant budgetary constraints. This cost reduction allows for greater budgetary flexibility, enabling agencies to support a more continuous and robust human presence in space over the long term, as the economic barrier to access is lowered considerably compared to legacy pricing models.
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