when you hear about spacex attempts to launch 🚀 and 7 starship 💥 some may want to know more how it all started, how has it been, how most of its operations funded by 🇺🇸taxpayers at least since 2006 while remaining private . Here's an overview of how 🇺🇸taxpayers contributions via USG to SpaceX were handled by the White House administration from Bush to Biden with over 12 B contracts and subsidies.

Commercial Orbital Transportation Services (COTS)

2006: NASA awarded SpaceX $278 million under COTS to develop the Falcon 9 rocket and Dragon spacecraft. This was part of an initiative to encourage private sector involvement in spaceflight, aiming to reduce costs for ISS resupply.

The 2008 contract worth $1.6 billion was awarded at the end of the Bush administration but executed during Obama term with a significant portion of the funding spent under Obama administration

During Obama (2009-2016)

Continuation of COTS

The funding from COTS continued into the early part of Obama's administration, with SpaceX completing its milestones to earn the full award of $396 million.

Commercial Resupply Services (CRS)

Commercial Crew Program (CCP)

CCDev 1 (2010): $27.8 million CCDev 2 (2011): $75 million CCtCap (2014)**: $2.6 billion

Total funding for spacex During ObamaApproximately was $3.5 billion (including an estimate of ongoing CRS missions).

Trump and Biden Administrations

Commercial Resupply Services (CRS-2) 2016

Under the Trump administration, NASA awarded SpaceX a new contract (CRS-2) for cargo resupply missions to the ISS, valued at $3.1 billion for 20 flights.

Commercial Crew Program (CCP)

Operational Contracts: Following the initial development phase, SpaceX began receiving payments for operational missions. The first operational Crew Dragon mission (Crew-1) flew in November 2020, with ongoing funding for subsequent missions.

Artemis Program Support

SpaceX was awarded contracts for lunar lander development under the Artemis program. In April 2021, during the Biden administration, SpaceX won a contract worth $2.89 billion for the Human Landing System (HLS) for the Artemis III mission, part of a broader plan to return humans to the Moon.

Starlink and Other Space Internet: While not direct funding, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) under both administrations has supported SpaceX's efforts in broadband internet deployment, including subsidies and regulatory approvals.

Trump Administration funded Approximately $3.1 billion for CRS-2 and ongoing CCP operations. Biden Administration At least $2.89 billion for the HLS contract, with additional funding for continued ISS resupply and crew transport.

The contributions have grown over time, while funding has transitioned from development-focused to operational and mission-specific contracts, showcasing a maturing relationship between SpaceX and NASA. 

the Obama administration provided significant support for SpaceX in several key ways.

Commercial Crew and Cargo Programs

The Obama administration continued and expanded the Commercial Orbital Transportation Services (COTS) program started under the Bush administration and awarded SpaceX significant contracts to develop and operate the Dragon spacecraft for cargo resupply missions to the International Space Station (ISS). In 2011, SpaceX became the first commercial company to deliver cargo to the ISS under this program.

The Obama administration pushed forward the Commercial Crew Program, which aimed to develop spacecraft capable of carrying astronauts to and from the ISS. This initiative was crucial for SpaceX as it led to the development of the Crew Dragon, with SpaceX receiving contracts for this purpose. These contracts were part of a broader strategy to foster a commercial space industry, reducing NASA's reliance on Russian Soyuz for crew transport after the Space Shuttle retirement.

Policy Support

President Obama's 2010 speech at the Kennedy Space Center outlined a vision for space exploration that included leveraging commercial capabilities. His administration was supportive of transitioning some of NASA's functions to the private sector, particularly for low Earth orbit activities. This policy was a significant shift from previous government-centric approaches to spaceflight.

Funding and Contracts

Under Obama, NASA awarded SpaceX contracts not only for cargo but also for the development of crewed spacecraft, providing the company with both financial backing and the credibility to attract further investment. The administration's commitment to these contracts helped SpaceX secure its place in the space industry.

Legislation

The Obama administration backed legislation that facilitated the growth of the commercial space sector. For example, the SPACE Act of 2015, which was signed into law by Obama, provided a regulatory framework that supported commercial space activities, including those by SpaceX.

Public Endorsement

High-profile visits, like President Obama's tour of SpaceX facilities in 2010 with Elon Musk, were symbolic of the administration's support for SpaceX and its vision for commercial spaceflight.

This support was instrumental in enabling SpaceX to evolve from a startup into a major player in both cargo and crewed spaceflight, significantly altering the landscape of space travel by proving the viability of commercial space ventures.

After 100% failure rate as EVERY starship spaceship 🚀 was lost and destroyed since 2023 in 7 test flights some may wonder how it compares to old school 20th century space programs.

Here's a breakdown of the test flights for both the 🇺🇸Mercury and 🇷🇺Vostok programs: Project Mercury (USA):

Total Uncrewed Test Flights: 4 (before human flights)

1. Mercury-Redstone 1 (MR-1) Failed; launched December 1960, vehicle reached only 4 inches off the pad due to early engine shutdown.
2. Mercury-Redstone 1A (MR-1A) Success; launched December 1960, after fixing MR-1 issues.
3. Mercury-Redstone 2 (MR-2) Success; launched January 1961, carried Ham the Chimp on a sub-orbital flight.
4. Mercury-Atlas 1 (MA-1): Failed; launched July 1961, rocket range safety destruct system triggered due to structural issues.
5. Mercury-Atlas 2 (MA-2)Success; launched February 1961, important for proving the Atlas could handle the spacecraft.
6. Mercury-Atlas 3 (MA-3) Partial Success; launched April 1961, the booster performed well but the spacecraft's escape tower fired prematurely, sending it into a ballistic trajectory.
7. Mercury-Atlas 4 (MA-4) Success; launched September 1961, fully successful orbital flight.

Summary for Mercury: Failed: 2 (MR-1, MA-1) Succeeded: 4 (MR-1A, MR-2, MA-2, MA-4) Partial Success: 1 (MA-3) Vostok Program (Soviet Union): Total Uncrewed Test Flights: 8 (before human flights)

Sputnik 1: Partial Success; launched May 1960, reached orbit but reentry failed, no recovery. Sputnik 2 Success; launched August 1960, carried two dogs, Belka and Strelka, which survived the flight. Sputnik 3: Failed; launched December 1960, booster failed to reach orbit, no recovery. Sputnik 4 Partial Success; launched March 1961, achieved orbit but reentry guidance system failed, landed off-course. Sputnik 5: Success; launched March 1961, carried dogs Zvezdochka and Chernushka, successful reentry. Vostok 1P: Failed; launched March 1961, booster failure before reaching orbit. Vostok 3KA-2: Success; launched March 1961, dummy cosmonaut, successful test of entire flight profile. Vostok 3KA-3 Success; launched April 1961, final test before Gagarin, dummy cosmonaut, successful.

Summary for Vostok: Failed: 2 (Sputnik 3, Vostok 1P) Succeeded: 4 (Korabl-Sputnik 2, Korabl-Sputnik 5, Vostok 3KA-2, Vostok 3KA-3) Partial Success: 2