At times, achieving success brings about unexpected consequences. The United States Space Force, Air Force, and NASA find themselves in a situation where they're essentially relying on SpaceX to provide space launch services. While it might not be an official decision, it has become the default scenario due to the cost-effectiveness and availability of launch slots, leading to significant success for SpaceX.
However, this success has led to an unforeseen consequence – a deprioritization of rocket research and development efforts by the Space Force, Air Force, and NASA. The rationale seems to be that since SpaceX is handling the required R&D, there's no need for the government to invest in independent space access efforts. It raises a critical question: What if the U.S. government had halted aircraft research and development when the Ford Tri-Motor was successfully flying between Cleveland and Chicago?
Reflecting on history, if President Franklin Roosevelt had taken such a stance in the late 1930s, dismissing further aircraft R&D because the Tri-Motor was operational, the trajectory of aviation development might have been vastly different. Roosevelt understood the importance of continual investment in incremental and breakthrough technology, a perspective that seems to be lacking today.
The attitude of spending money on what's immediately available rather than investing in the development of new technology isn't novel. The Air Force resisted the development and procurement of GPS, viewing it as a drain on resources that could be used for more tangible assets like additional fighter jets. This myopic view isn't unique to the present; it echoes through the decades.
Comparisons can be drawn to the 1930s when the Air Force might have argued against spending on the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA) in favor of more aircraft on the ramp. However, the incremental developments resulting from NACA research played a crucial role in enhancing the lethality of U.S. warplanes during World War II.
The lesson here is that incremental changes, stemming from ongoing research, contribute to technological advancements that shape the future. While it may be challenging to convince military personnel of the necessity to cut back on immediate assets in favor of long-term infrastructure, industrial base, and R&D investments, it's a crucial trade-off.
The analogy of "seed corn" is apt – one must continue planting and setting aside resources for future challenges. China's commitment to research and development in reusable rockets and other rocket science and technology highlights the importance of this approach. For NASA, the Space Force, and the Air Force, maintaining investment in basic R&D activities is vital, even in the face of budget constraints. It's a challenging task, but a necessary one if we aim to be adequately prepared for the next significant challenge on the horizon.
Tim Kyger, a former Congressional staffer, and Pat Bahn, CEO of TGV Rockets, a small advanced propulsion company, emphasize the importance of sustaining investments in R&D for the future.
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