Reusability

Reusability in commercial space is the discipline of designing launch vehicles and spacecraft for multiple flights with minimal refurbishment. SpaceX's Falcon 9 first stage is the benchmark, with 25-plus flights per core. The economics flipped fast: expendable launch ran $5,000 to $10,000 per kg to LEO through the 2010s, Falcon 9 reusable drove it under $2,000, and Starship targets sub-$200. Every legacy provider is now scrambling. The propulsion engineers who can design methane-fueled engines for 100-plus cycles are the most-poached profile in commercial space. Roles where this matters: Engineering, Propulsion, Operations, Manufacturing.