How many versions of Starship did Space X explode or crash?
They seem to have produced better results on less money — so if NASA can’t follow the strategy that works, why should we throw more into the money pit?
They seem to have produced better results on less money — so if NASA can’t follow the strategy that works, why should we throw more into the money pit?
I don't think you can assert that NASA hasn't or wouldn't fall to Pournelle's Iron Law of Bureaucracy. What makes NASA special to be immune to such dysfunction?
It's the curse of waterfall budgeting. A democratic government with typical constraints wants to minimize spending and to have all spending fully accounted for in advance.
"I dunno, maybe it will blow up this time?" is not an acceptable line-item under either standard.
Therefore, budgets must plan for success and design failure out of the process. Minimizing risk maximizes process and cost, ironically sacrificing the very low-cost public policy goal at the feet of risk intolerance. Instead of fifty SLS launches, of which the first dozen or so might fail as learning experiences, we get five that all must go flawlessly.
True "risky" development is reserved for programs of true national urgency (e.g. the original defense focus of the space race) or for programs that can operate well outside the public's watchful eye.
Also SpaceX plan to make 1000 Starships, and NASA plans to make about 5 of theirs
You don’t get to decide where the money goes at all. Senators do so they can boast about bringing jobs to their state in reelection campaigns.