{
  "meta": {
    "key": "launch_cost",
    "title": "Cost per kg to LEO",
    "unit": "USD/kg",
    "category": "Space",
    "source": "CSIS Aerospace Security Project (Roberts)",
    "sourceUrl": "https://aerospace.csis.org/data/space-launch-to-low-earth-orbit-how-much-does-it-cost/",
    "verified": "2026-09-06",
    "url": "https://exponentialtracker.com/curve/launch_cost",
    "csv": "https://exponentialtracker.com/data/launch_cost.csv",
    "json": "https://exponentialtracker.com/data/launch_cost.json",
    "retrievedFrom": "Compiled by Exponential Tracker and re-derived from the source named above. Rebuilt on every deploy, so re-fetch rather than trusting a saved copy to be current.",
    "rights": "The underlying data belongs to CSIS Aerospace Security Project (Roberts). This compilation may be reused with attribution to Exponential Tracker. No licence is claimed or implied over the source data.",
    "citation": "Exponential Tracker, \"Cost per kg to LEO\", exponentialtracker.com/curve/launch_cost, data verified 2026-09-06. Underlying source: CSIS Aerospace Security Project (Roberts)."
  },
  "data": [
    {
      "year": 1962,
      "value": 14900,
      "label": "Kosmos"
    },
    {
      "year": 1965,
      "value": 8200,
      "label": "Proton"
    },
    {
      "year": 1967,
      "value": 5400,
      "label": "Saturn V: cheapest for 18 years"
    },
    {
      "year": 1985,
      "value": 5100,
      "label": "Zenit 2"
    },
    {
      "year": 2010,
      "value": 2600,
      "label": "Falcon 9 finally beats Saturn V"
    },
    {
      "year": 2018,
      "value": 1500,
      "label": "Falcon Heavy"
    }
  ]
}