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You make it sound easy, but NASA's current heavy lift rocket has spent billions more than SpaceX and the project is still years away from test launch.
by mobilefriendly 9y ago
You make it sound easy, but NASA's current heavy lift rocket has spent billions more than SpaceX and the project is still years away from test launch.
- a_cactus 9y agoDelta IV heavy looks pretty similar to the Falcon Heavy approach. I would imagine there was some knowdgle transfer there. That being said, SpaceX is taking a much more pragmatic and efficient approach to building rockets with far less bureaucracy. This is the epitome of private sector efficieny over government projects.
- ben_w 9y agoI recall reading SpaceX had to reinvent quite a few wheels because the existing private sector was far too expensive — everything from cryogenic pumps to sea recovery of lower stages. The problem is lack of meaningful competition, rather than government vs. industry; governments can be very good when competing with other governments.