I think our different point of view is here: >NASA tries to make a new launcher by itself, though with big inputs from your usual defence industry contractors.

I think our different point of view is here: >NASA tries to make a new launcher by itself, though with big inputs from your usual defence industry contractors. The way NASA works is as follows; First, they put together a program proposal. Like they put together the Mars Exploration Program[1] in response to their 2014 Science Plan[2]. The program is allocated budget from NASAs annual budget allocation from congress. Then they create science missions which are specific projects within a program that support the program goals. The current Mars mission, Perseverance, is an example. Then they go out and contract with vendors for hardware that they can use in the mission. That includes everything from rovers to launch services. In the case of Artemis, NASA created a program to return a person to the moon. And they started creating requirements for the equipment that they would need. And they put out those contracts and request proposals, which capable vendors will send in. Then they select from the proposals they get and issue a contract. The vendor then builds the part to the requirements, NASA verifies that it meets there needs, and then they pay the vendor. Often these contracts will have several milestones that have to be met, and the vendor will be paid for meeting milestones. This lets the vendor get some money to buy raw materials and start construction, etc. Cost overruns occur when the vendor discovers something between milestones that wasn't anticipated and they negotiate with NASA for additional funds to cover that need. NASA has never "tried to make a new launcher", that they have done is specified requirements for a launcher that doesn't yet exist and asked people to send them proposals for how they would build it. [1] https://mars.nasa.gov/ https://mars.nasa.gov/ [2] http://smd-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/science-pink/s3fs-public/atoms/files/2014_Science_Plan_PDF_Update_508_TAGGED_1.pdf http://smd-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/science-pink/s3fs-public/at...