New details of the previously reported incident underscore how dependent the U.S. government has become on a company that once had to fight in court to become part of the Washington establishment.
  • Cyborganism@lemmy.ca
    81·
    1 year ago

    “One of the advantages is the huge amount of innovation coming out of the private sector, which the government wants to leverage to stay ahead of China and others,” said Brian Weeden, the director of program planning at the Secure World Foundation, a think tank.

    Well if the government had invested in its space and innovation programs they wouldn’t have to rely on the private sector.

    • knfrmity@lemmygrad.ml
      2·
      1 year ago

      The US government has certainly invested in private space programs. SpaceX is just one very expensive and prominent example.

    • Blake [he/him]@feddit.uk
      22·
      1 year ago

      Honestly I’m kind of glad that they didn’t. Imagine if the US government had even more control and surveillance potential over the internet. I know they already basically have 100% but, I dunno, a network of low-Earth-orbit satellites constantly hovering overhead, covering every square centimetre of the earth, is a bit scary.

      • IronCorgi@kbin.social
        61·
        1 year ago

        I don’t think the same network in the hands of an unstable billionaire is an improvement. Given the choice I’d rather the U.S. have control of the network.