The month of June 2020 (understood in a slightly extended sense to include a May 30 launch) constitutes the return of the US to space.
It also constitutes a milestone in the development of privately owned space travel.
Space-X (aka the Space Explorations Technologies Corp.) was founded by Elon Musk in 2002 just to make possible this month.
Yes, back in the golden age of space exploration (Mercury, Gemini, Apollo), NASA purchased from private contractors. Boeing, Douglas Aircraft, IBM all played a role.
But NASA was in the position of General Motors. It was manufacturing a vehicle, while buying the wheels and axle from one parts manufacturer, the body from another, the engine from still another.
Space-X is now General Motors. And NASA doesn't even buy the finished car. It is only a leasee.
Cool beans.
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