The actual designs are much less important than the assurance that the general approach works and the expertise of the personnel. The actual designs are wort

The actual designs are much less important than the assurance that the general approach works and the expertise of the personnel. The actual designs are worth little in comparison. We had the design and license to build the fabulous Russian RD-180 engines, but chose not to because it would have been too hard. We have the designs for the Saturn V, and wouldn't be able to build it even if we wanted to. OTOH, China is basically copying the SpaceX designs, even without the designs. One great thing about Elon Musk is that he's so horrible to work for that lots of people join SpaceX straight out of school, get that expertise and then leave for better bosses or start their own company. c.f. the "traightorous 8" that left Shockley to start Fairchild. Shockley almost singlehandedly created Silicon Valley by being a horrible boss.