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I would normally agree with you, having also been in the Air Force, but as OP pointed out, these types of reviews are inappropriate for this contracting structu

I would normally agree with you, having also been in the Air Force, but as OP pointed out, these types of reviews are inappropriate for this contracting structure. The Air Force isn't supposed to care how it's done, just that it is done to listed specifications. I think more likely explanation is some officer dusted off a review for ULA and just said "eh, this is how we perform these reviews in the past, I'll just do the same thing for SpaceX."

tsotha 12y ago
They have to care how it's done, because they have to evaluate the risk of the launch failing and destroying the satellite. That's not just a money issue - a launch failure means the capability you thought you would have won't be available until some later date. Maybe years later.