Rocket Lab Unveils Plans for New 8-Ton Class Reusable Rocket
IMO the reason that Rocket Lab is doing an eight tonne rocket is not because of the market for mega constellations.  It&#x27;s because 8 tonnes is about the minimum size for a fully reusable rocket.   You need a rocket big enough to launch all the propellant and shields needed for landing and still have room for payload.  And so the bigger the rocket, the more margin you have.<p>Once fully reusable, costs drop dramatically, so I wouldn&#x27;t be surprised if the price of Neutron is similar to that of Electron.  Who would use a small launch vehicle when a medium one is the same price, giving you a lot more room for maneuver propellant.<p>This is the size of Falcon 9 v1.0, and they once believed full reusability was possible.<p><a href="https:&#x2F;&#x2F;m.youtube.com&#x2F;watch?v=sWFFiubtC3c&amp;feature=youtu.be" rel="nofollow">https:&#x2F;&#x2F;m.youtube.com&#x2F;watch?v=sWFFiubtC3c&amp;feature=youtu.be</a><p>Edit:  they haven&#x27;t announced full reusability.   But I believe they&#x27;re working on it.<p>Edit 2: I still don&#x27;t believe mega-constellations are the reason for Neutron.   It being the minimum size for full reusability could be one, but another explanation is it being the minimum size for human space flight.