What does a Wren Microlifter really cost?

The sticker price for a Wren Microlifter is ₡6.4 million, but the cost of owning a Surface-to-orbit lifter over its lifetime depends on much more. This breakdown covers the main line items.

Fuel is usually the biggest recurring expense. The Wren Microlifter burns Methalox (liquid methane / liquid oxygen) at about 28 tonnes per 100 AU, so a full 2 AU round trip is predictable to budget for.

Crew is next. You will need 1 pilot and 1 people in total, and those salaries, training and life-support consumables add up over a decade of service.

Maintenance on a 14 m hull at a Halcyon yard runs to a few percent of the purchase price each year. Since its first flight on May 2179, the class has kept its maintenance costs low.