Re: Say what you want...
> Yay for free markets
The American space program is most definitely NOT anything close to a free market. It is closely controlled by Congress and used as a political football.
For example, the current hoorah over launching American spysats on rockets powered by Russian engines. They'd be powered by American engines, except guess what? Congress cancelled the last FIVE of the NASA engine R&D programs. One of which (FASTRAC) was rescued by that bi-polar stoner Elon Musk and resurrected as Merlin
> NASA being unable to meet any kind of deadlines or cost estimates
See above. This is because Congress has cut the COTS crew program funding by 67% and the BEST thing about it is that the senator responsible for the cuts is now bitching it's behind schedule!
And when you have to punt deadlines and jerk contractors around, of course it all gets more expensive... and I end up footing the bill for all this bullshit, as a taxpayer.
Biting the hand that feeds IT
