The big difference between SpaceX and NASA is both in the size of the organisation - NASA does far more than build rockets, and in the vertical integration SpaceX has.
The rocket, the payload, the guidance and the engines are all built under the one roof.
A lot of NASA's equipment comes from sub-contractors, and sub-sub-contractors, and sub-sub contractors. To a design spec by NASA. The Saturn V, IIRC, was running on Rocketdyne engines, had stages built by Boeing, Douglas, North American and Grumman, with IBM computers. All of these have to be coordinated in some way so their equipment- made in different parts of a big country by different companies with different internal standards, all had to somehow fit together and work first time since every rocket NASA builds is effectively a prototype. At each step along the way, the sub-contractor takes their own bite to make their own profit, so costs are always going to be higher.
That, and the political tendency to go Ramses on previous administration's programs.
The rocket, the payload, the guidance and the engines are all built under the one roof.
A lot of NASA's equipment comes from sub-contractors, and sub-sub-contractors, and sub-sub contractors. To a design spec by NASA. The Saturn V, IIRC, was running on Rocketdyne engines, had stages built by Boeing, Douglas, North American and Grumman, with IBM computers. All of these have to be coordinated in some way so their equipment- made in different parts of a big country by different companies with different internal standards, all had to somehow fit together and work first time since every rocket NASA builds is effectively a prototype. At each step along the way, the sub-contractor takes their own bite to make their own profit, so costs are always going to be higher.
That, and the political tendency to go Ramses on previous administration's programs.
Oh sweet meteor of death
Fall upon us.
Deliver us in fire
To Peace everlasting.
Fall upon us.
Deliver us in fire
To Peace everlasting.