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It is a "spit in the bucket" tho. Not to mention private agencies seem to be out-performing NASA hand over fist, the last 5 years or so!

mostly thanks to government grants

Not virgin. They are privately funded. But Space-X, yes. At least they have something to show for their hand-outs....

Virgin extracted a lot of money from taxpayers to build their spaceport boondoggle with a lot of lies about passenger flights out of there.

I see what you mean! A quarter of a billion is a lot of money...But in 2 counties who are desperate and VOTED to pass a levy to pay for it, I'd say it's worth a shot! @ $250,000 per ride, it'll take 1000 commercial rides into space to break even ;(. Mr. Branson better get the gitty on this one! They do have many successful test flights already completed. ;)