this post was submitted on 05 Apr 2025
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The tech billionaire and Trump adviser “donated” Starlink service to the White House. The move resembles a previous maneuver by Microsoft, which used “free” trials to lock in costly upgrades across the federal government.

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[–] NotMyOldRedditName@lemmy.world 0 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago)

So there were some military contracts that were just awarded.

54 missions total:

SpaceX: 28 missions, $5.9 B = $210.7 M per launch

ULA: 19 missions, $5.4 B = $284 M per launch

BO: 7 missions, $2.4 B = $342.9 M per launch

SpaceX did get the most money, but they were also the cheapest provider due to their reusable 1st stages.

Just with those 9 extra launches over ULA SpaceX saves the US government and taxpayers 668 million dollars.

If SpaceX didn't exist, it would have been ~~8~~ 2 billion more but actually worse since the other providers can't supply that much and wouldn't have had as much competitive incentive. Just look at BO the next one which was almost 60m more than ULA. It easily could have ballooned to 4b more adding a 3rd even more expensive option.

Doesn't seem so self dealing to me, they were able to bid lower and win more, and saved, (I'm assuming you given your ~~rage~~ upset) a shit load of money.

This is what SpaceX has been doing for years, well before he got in bed with Trump.