Why Space Infrastructure Costs 10x Less Now | Peter Beck

Rocket Lab claims vertical integration and scale let it build satellite constellations for roughly one-tenth the cost of traditional operators like Iridium.

• Iridium deal economics: Rocket Lab is acquiring satellite operator Iridium for roughly $8 billion, expecting to close by year-end or mid-2026, gaining L-band spectrum and a services business.
• 10x cost claim: Beck says Iridium's original constellation cost ~$3 billion to build; Rocket Lab estimates it could replicate it for ~$350 million via vertical integration (90% built in-house) and manufacturing scale.

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