Slight correction: the government admits that SpaceX can do it better and cheaper if they can deliver on their predictions. NASA is paying for a series of test flights to determine whether or not that's actually the case.
Remember, the Falcon 9 hasn't actually launched yet (although much of the design is shared with the Falcon 1). I'm really looking forward to its first test launch, which should be coming up before just too long. Their ground crew overhead is impressively low.
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Slight correction: the government admits that SpaceX can do it better and cheaper if they can deliver on their predictions. NASA is paying for a series of test flights to determine whether or not that's actually the case.
Remember, the Falcon 9 hasn't actually launched yet (although much of the design is shared with the Falcon 1). I'm really looking forward to its first test launch, which should be coming up before just too long. Their ground crew overhead is impressively low.