true4blue t1_j22elnu wrote
NASA is years behind the private sector in launch technology
Cyberpunk_Delayer t1_j23c6ik wrote
It doesn't have to be that way, but it comes down to funding. NASA has a relatively small budget compared to the military for example.
Jackleme t1_j23stuv wrote
That really isn't the issue.
NASA has significantly more funding then SpaceX, they just happen to not be as nimble. They are constrained by having a lot of things they are responsible for, and for a long time being locked into a way of doing things.
SpaceX had a novel idea, and it isn't like just NASA is behind. Basically everyone is.
Ancient_Persimmon t1_j256753 wrote
NASA funds SpaceX, they aren't in competition.
NASA should review the fact that they've thrown way too much cash at so-called "old Space" and perhaps increase their investment in the various start ups that are promising, but they should also get credit for supporting SpaceX from their early days.
Jackleme t1_j256hix wrote
I understand, my point is that SpaceX does it with way less money... It isn't a budget issue :)
Ancient_Persimmon t1_j257gu1 wrote
Oh definitely. It's more an issue of allocation and having to navigate the politics that they're bound to.
There's a bunch of different people vying for their own idea of what project/mission should be prioritized and there's the whole "pork barrel" thing with defense contractors and manufacturing.
NASA have been increasingly cozy with SpaceX as time goes on and they keep hitting targets though, whereas Boeing don't have the same luster they once had with politicians.
Ancient_Persimmon t1_j255mxd wrote
NASA themselves fund research and they run missions, but they've never developed launchers themselves, they've always relied on the private sector for that.
Unfortunately, they've been giving ULA/Boeing most of the money and those guys have proven to be essentially useless.
The flip side is that they've also supported smaller companies like SpaceX from the get go and now we can all benefit from what SpaceX has accomplished over the last 15 years.
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