Advantages and disadvantages of reusuable launch vehicles

Cost reduction per launch and payload return capability of reusable launch vehicles are contrasted with higher development costs, more complex engines, need for heat shielding, and retrieval problems. The development of a semireusable vehicle, with expendable first stage is found economically most feasible. It is concluded that for the ESA Solaris project (permanent space platform) 1500 to 2000 MAU would be saved on the 15 year project.