# What is the current cost-per-pound to send something into LEO?

As a student of economics and finance I would love to learn more about the cost structures of sending a payload into orbit.

More specifically -

• What is the cost-per-pound to send something into LEO for the handful of operating private and public space programs?
• How has the cost-per-pound to orbit changed over the years?
-

The cost depends on the rocket, and on the percent capacity of said rocket, but here's a few numbers for you, cost in U.S. dollars/kg to LEO (Wikipedia). It should be noted that not all rocket prices are publicly available, in fact, most aren't.

• Falcon 9 v 1.1- $4,109 • DNEPR-$3,784

• Ariane 5- $10,476 • Delta IV-$13,072

• Atlas V- \$13,182

-
Is it merely a matter of company policy that price to LEO is often not public? Any idea? –  Everyone Sep 16 '13 at 17:03
I don't believe these Falcon 9 numbers have ever been substantiated in the form of a contract. –  AlanSE Sep 16 '13 at 17:10
@geoffc: I know at least Orbcomm has a contract, ported at a discount. spaceflightnow.com/news/n1301/01orbcomm . The article indicates that it is due to a prior contract to launch their satellites on a Falcon 1, which was discontinued. –  PearsonArtPhoto Sep 16 '13 at 20:09
Also, SES has one with no price listed, and Thaicomm has one, no price listed. At the least, the Falcon 9 prices are no higher than is listed on their website, thus I think the price is reasonable to be included. –  PearsonArtPhoto Sep 16 '13 at 20:21
"Cost" and "price" are two different things. The numbers provided in this answer mix the two. –  Erik Sep 17 '13 at 0:17