I really don’t think it’s a question of not enough funding. NASA just doesn’t seem to be capable of spending and planning efficiently.
By comparison, the whole cost of SpaceX’s Starship program is estimated to be between $5 and $10 billion. It should be possible to do a far cheaper and more effective sample return with launchers like that available.
They basically aren’t allowed to spend efficiently or else they wouldn’t get funding in the first place. NASA is just an excuse for congressmen to funnel money into their districts. The fact that any science happens along the way is a miracle already.
I really don’t think it’s a question of not enough funding. NASA just doesn’t seem to be capable of spending and planning efficiently.
By comparison, the whole cost of SpaceX’s Starship program is estimated to be between $5 and $10 billion. It should be possible to do a far cheaper and more effective sample return with launchers like that available.
They basically aren’t allowed to spend efficiently or else they wouldn’t get funding in the first place. NASA is just an excuse for congressmen to funnel money into their districts. The fact that any science happens along the way is a miracle already.