What happened: study finds India’s per-kg launch cost to low-earth orbit is the highest

A peer-reviewed analysis covering more than six decades of rocket launches argues that India’s cost per kilogram to low-earth orbit remains the highest among major spacefaring countries. The study estimates that in 2025 Indian rockets cost about $13,300 per kg to low-earth orbit, which is higher than Europe, Russia, China, Japan, and the United States, while also exceeding the lower global average reported in the study.

The study links the high unit cost mainly to launch economics. The study attributes high India per-unit cost to the frequent use of smaller rockets—fixed launch costs are spread over relatively small payloads, so unit economics do not improve as quickly.

The study also examines cost reduction via an “experience curve.” An experience curve is a pattern where costs fall as cumulative production or usage increases. The study finds that only the United States and Europe show statistically significant experience-curve learning since around 2010. The study says India launches too infrequently to drive sustained cost reductions.

Background and earlier position: India’s launch sector is expanding under private participation

India is expanding launch capacity through private industry in the period after sector opening under IN-SPACe (Indian National Space Promotion and Authorization Centre) in 2020. IN-SPACe is an institutional mechanism that supports private-sector participation in India’s space activities, including launch-related activities.

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