Reusable rockets are here, so why is NASA paying more to launch stuff to space?

The article discusses the soaring costs of NASA's launch missions, particularly after the formation of the United Launch Alliance, which monopolized contracts and eliminated competition. This led to inflated prices for launches from 2009 onwards. In contrast, the entry of SpaceX in the mid-2010s significantly reduced these costs with the Falcon 9 rocket. The article provides examples of launch costs adjusted for inflation and contrasts earlier missions with recent prices to highlight the impact of changes in the aerospace industry on NASA's budget.

The launch costs for NASA missions have significantly increased since the late 2000s, primarily due to the United Launch Alliance merger eliminating competitive pricing.

NASA's transition to SpaceX's Falcon 9 in the mid-2010s introduced lower launch costs, showcasing a shift in the competitive landscape of space missions.

Read at Ars Technica