> Pretty much everything that has to do with space was first developed by governments for military purposes. Rockets, satellites, communications, imaging, etc.

> Pretty much everything that has to do with space was first developed by governments for military purposes. Rockets, satellites, communications, imaging, etc. No. First works on rockets was conduct by free market, even British Interplanetary Society designed flight to Moon (1938) and Lunar Space Suit (1940), unfortunately these works stay plans. BIS said, this is because too strict British regulations. https://www.bis-space.com/technical-projects/ https://www.bis-space.com/technical-projects/ It is just coincidence, in Germany made first space scale rocket (A-4) and Soviets made first satellite. Planned first satellite was Vanguard, born in civilian American Rocket Society and used civilian sounding rockets rather than military missiles. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Project_Vanguard https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Project_Vanguard https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Rocket_Society https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Rocket_Society Just after Soviets demonstrate first satellite launch and huge for that time ICBM R-7, US government joined space race and participated in it until Russians shown interest fall After Russians avoid to show something similar to Apollo program, US government cancelled next launches and switched to minimalist space program, just to support lead in space, because of military considerations.