What does a Kestrel really cost?

The sticker price for a Kestrel is ₡12.8 million, but the cost of owning a Light shuttle over its lifetime depends on much more. This breakdown covers the main line items.

Fuel is usually the biggest recurring expense. The Kestrel burns Methalox (liquid methane / liquid oxygen) at about 9.5 tonnes per 100 AU, so a full 14 AU round trip is predictable to budget for.

Crew is next. You will need 2 pilots and 3 people in total, and those salaries, training and life-support consumables add up over a decade of service.

Maintenance on a 34 m hull at a Halcyon yard runs to a few percent of the purchase price each year. Since its first flight on September 2179, the class has kept its maintenance costs low.