From: jfindley@cinci.nospam.rr.com   
      
   In article <1oiPI.9021$Fx8.8782@fx45.iad>, jfmezei.spamnot@vaxination.ca   
   says...   
   >   
   > On 2021-08-06 13:11, Jeff Findley wrote:   
   >   
   > > ULA, and now Falcon, launch interplanetery probes.  That's why they   
   > > generally launch on time.   
   >   
   > Yes, but how come ULA can launch on time when it counts, but stretch   
   > project indefinitely for others (giving impression they are unable to do   
   > space stuff).   
      
   They're beholden to their parent companies, so only the things that the   
   parent companies approve of goes forward.   
      
   > > No.  Government contracts are competitively bid.   
   >   
   > RFPs acan be shaped to favour the company with the larger lobbying budget.   
      
   When there is clearly more than one launch provider that's reliable,   
   that would be quite difficult to pull off and still remain within the   
   limits of US laws and US government procurement rules.   
      
   Jeff   
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