SpaceX

[ThomCa-ching]

Most of them are private companies. Besides Space X has a 3/5 = 60% success rate for launches including losing several NASA cargos. Although I think funding private enterprises is the right thing to do, I think the current plan could be potentially bad. As soon as the shuttle retires this year, we will be entirely dependant on foreign launch services until U.S. companies (Orbital and Space X) are ready to launch our cargo to the space station. Although Orbital has worked on fine projects in the past, this is an enormous undertaking for this small company (much less experience than Boeing and Lockheed).

The U.S. government is the only organization with proper man hours in orbit. Outsourcing that to solely amateur launch services (unless you think 5 launches, 3 successful, is a proven success) may be potentially catastrophic. At this point we have no alternative. Obama's plan I don't think is a good thing. It cuts billions out in the future for more of a Earth-focused agenda than space exploration. Basically it is another way to stimulate the economy by helping fund small businesses for research and development. Unfortunately we don't have a plan, so we'll basically fund a bunch of broad projects that the government will not likely get to truly use in the future.