[ceejayoz]

> Are airlines subsidizing oil companies when they purchase oil futures in order to hedge their oil costs?

No; both parties in the deal have successfully accomplished their respective roles repeatedly before. The airline isn't doing anything new; the oil company isn't doing anything new.

(And they both absolutely get subsidized!)

> There is no indication that these commitments were underpriced by the government...

They got paid for a launch of an untested platform and a student-built payload, regardless of success, in hopes it would result in a good tested platform. What else do you call it?

[signatoremo]

No question that NASA was pivotal to SpaceX’s success, especially COTS program. However that wasn’t subsides. They only got paid when they could deliver. Had they fail to launch Falcon 9 or cargo Dragon they would have gotten no dimes from NASA.

[ceejayoz]

> Had they fail to launch Falcon 9 or cargo Dragon they would have gotten no dimes from NASA.

That's false.

https://www.nasa.gov/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/189228main_s... - start at page 34.

The first demonstration mission is paid milestone #13. If I'm adding it up correctly, about $200M paid out prior to that first demonstration flight.