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It seems a bit funny to blame the US launch market specifically for "corruption" when every other launch market in the world behaved in essentially the same way.

While the US launch market is not a perfect model of market principles, efficient operation, and fair competition, it's also the only one where it was possible for an outsider to found a new company to do things in a different way.

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Aversion to risk. A $billion+ gift each year from Uncle Sam to 'maintain' a launch capability and 'free' pads from Harris-Vandenberg and PAFB kept Boeing/Lockheed in the game without risking 'Investors' deposits. For that $billion and cost+ launches, US gets an average of one Delta launch a year and a few 60year-old Atlas cost+ launches with filthy thyroid killing strap-ons. Since actually RISKING 'Investors' deposits with un-tested hardware is 'fiducially irresponsible' for any 'Public Corporation', unless DOD or NASA covers ALL costs, the US space game stopped at Reagan. ATK-Orbital are cleaning out the back stockroom, P&W-Rocketdine just walked away.

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