[AR] Re: FW: [NASA HQ News] NASA Statement on Artemis Lunar Lander Court Decision

  • From: Henry Spencer <hspencer@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
  • To: Arocket List <arocket@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
  • Date: Thu, 4 Nov 2021 16:29:07 -0400 (EDT)

I wrote:

Beware "qualified supplier" syndrome. The only way to maintain actual competition is to sometimes give the job to an enthusiastic newcomer, because that's the only way you get *new* experienced suppliers, to replace old ones lost in mergers etc.

P.S. Boeing will happily tell you that almost all previous US manned spacecraft were built by companies now part of Boeing. But there is nothing left of McDonnell (Mercury, Gemini) in today's Boeing, and not much left of North American (Apollo CSM) or Rockwell (Shuttle orbiter). Technical competence isn't hereditary.

Henry

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