[BulgarianIdiot]

NASA gave SpaceX billions, at a time they were near bankrupt, and with no final working products, with the idea at some point in the future SpaceX will do something in return. Investors that fund a startup also give money expecting something in return in the future.

The difference between investor and customer is only one of scale. How much money and what timeframe for return. As that increases risk, accordingly.

When you pay for a house or an apartment that's not built yet, you're investing in construction, you're not a "customer". Of course you expect a house and/or an apartment in a few years. But you invested your money, and that house/apartment may not materialize.

So NASA was an investor. Today they're also a customer, but they're still an investor. Some of their money blew up two days ago.