> The idea was to make Boeing compete with SpaceX. Not quite. Results aside, the idea is that the government wants multiple sources for access to orbit. This

> The idea was to make Boeing compete with SpaceX. Not quite. Results aside, the idea is that the government wants multiple sources for access to orbit. This isn't so much about competition but rather about having options. I have no idea if there are other political elements to this at all. And so, ULA gets funding because they represent that other potential option. They can be as inefficient and slow as they want because, in a sense, their metric is to exist as backup. And, for backup to exist, you have to fund it not just to have things designed and built. You have to use these things despite cost and performance issues for readiness considerations. Conceptually, it makes sense. The execution, in my opinion, is seriously lacking in many ways.