The point is this is the beginning of the turn away from pure exploration to
commercial exploitation. Admittedly, governments are great at supporting
exploration (see Columbus, Cook, etc.) but their record at putting resources
to work is poor compared to the private sector. Efficiency is not a concept
that comes naturally to a government bureaucrat.

The point here (to rope things back to aviation) is to get a DC-3; a
spacecraft system that can make money without subsidy. I don't think any of
the X-Prize contenders are actually going to lead directly to a viable space
transport system, but they are intended to jumpstart efforts to head in that
direction.

--
Jim Atkins
Twentynine Palms, CA USA

Outside of a dog, a book is man's best friend.
Inside of a dog, it's too dark to read.
-Groucho Marx