Revenue Model Viability
Can a commercial station cover its operating costs?
Chapter summary
Station revenue comes from government tenancy, private and sovereign missions, research, manufacturing and media. The test here is operating cost coverage.
Key takeaways
- 1
NASA anchor payments of $40–50 million a year cover 20–30% of a $135–250 million operating cost: the anchor is necessary but not sufficient.
- 2
At a net $25 million per private mission, a station needs about five missions a year beyond NASA, more than the market has flown in any year.
- 3
Only the bull case, with two NASA providers, partner agencies and research contracts, covers operating costs in full.
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