Originally Posted by
riff_raff
It took SpaceX almost 6 years (2002 to 2008) to achieve the first successful launch of their Falcon rocket. The company model DARPA should be trying to emulate is North American Aviation during the early 1940's when they built and test flew the Mustang prototype in around 8 months time.
Riff,
No offence to NA, I love the Mustang as much as the next guy, but I'd suggest that building a frikkin space rocket is *somewhat* more complex than something controlled by cranks and pulleys. Don't get me wrong, both companies did a great job, but I'd suggest taking ten times as long to develop is a reasonable penalty for getting to space....