SpaceX seems to be carefully pushing their test vehicle along, trying one or two new things on each flight. Their budgets are a tiny fraction of NASA's budget for rocket development, and yet they've arguably accomplished much more than NASA has managed, and in a very short time. If they can figure out how to make money from the private sector, there's a lot of potential there – but that is a mighty big “if”.
Right now, 100% of their revenue comes from NASA contracts. I'm glad to see the cost reduction this affords NASA, but I'd much rather just shut down the manned space program at NASA – that would save a lot more money...
