[20yrs_no_equity]

Having the long term goal forces them to make the decisions and the technology work for that long term goal while achieving the short term goals.

Compare this to Virgin Galactic. They are working on a system that is great for tourist rides, and other suborbital missions. But unless we're talking something really small, they aren't inserting anything into LEO.

Getting into LEO is a critical step for getting past GEO orbit out into the solar system.

But if you just focus on LEO you end up with Virgin Galactic- they will beat Blue Origin on costs all day long. Thus in the tourist ride business their superior economics will let them win that business.

But if you want to go to mars you need heavy lift like SpaceX and Blue Origin are building.

[greglindahl]

Today's other space headline is about Virgin's LEO launch company signing up a customer for 4 flights:

http://spacenews.com/virgin-galactic-signs-sky-and-space-glo...