Risk-wise, look at SpaceX SpaceX did what NASA could not If NASA failed so many times in the development of new rockets they would be cut down by opposition..

Risk-wise, look at SpaceX SpaceX did what NASA could not If NASA failed so many times in the development of new rockets they would be cut down by opposition... but it was ok to send money to SpaceX and let them fail repeatedly until they got it "somewhat" right and burn through money. It makes Elon look good, yet his success so far is still due to burning through tax dollars NASA was not allowed to iterate on using those methods.