In the fine tradition of economic accelerators, the RRL is extending the NewSpace supply chain by providing backwards and forwards linkages between itself and its suppliers and consumers. By purchasing rocket engines from XCOR Aerospace and Armadillo Aerospace, the RRL has created a new market for these companies. By racing its vehicles at air shows and the like, it will extend the concept and brand of NewSpace to much larger and more diverse audiences than any space conference could hope to do.

Similarly, RRL suppliers will reach new audiences and increase their visibility... and eventually find as-yet-unknown new markets. For some who support space exploration, RRL may be difficult to swallow, and I understand this sentiment. Capitalism and the profit motive are not without their ugly sides, but we'll have to live with greater ugliness if human space activity remains bound within the traditional taxpayer-funded government-owned-and-operated domain. If RRL be space kitsch, I accept that as the price of opening the space frontier to all humanity. A bit of kitsch is preferable to continued reliance on unaffordable and politically unreliable government space programs.