[justiceseeker93]

I don't understand the meaning of the title of the posted article. It seems to me that NASA has been "funding private companies" since its inception. It's been called contracting.

[SunkenCiv]

Exactly so. :’)

Von Braun et al hired companies based not on where they were located, but based on whether they were able to do the job. That’s the real reason Apollo was cancelled.