Yes it was a test flight and it was expected to fail. Space X and Musk stated countless times the odds of it reaching orbit were at best 50/50.
This test flight “failing” had nothing to do with Space X not being selected.
Unlike NASA who tries to avoid failures because it’s a government entity, space X embraces the rapid failure approach. Move quickly, test, when things fail and they will, learn and move on. Instead of trying to not even try something before you believe you have solved every single problem, etc.
I’ll state right now, I don’t care who the government selected for its moon shot, musk’s space X will almost certainly be the program that gets man beyond its current maximum in space flight which is the Moon.
Bezos is far more about self glory than true achievement.
The cowboy spaceflight he took, go read Musks response on it, and contrast that with Bezos cowboy hat wearing press conference after his flight.
One has vision and truly wants to push humanity, the other is just a rich guy stroking his own ego.
Good post. I agree.