--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket and Dragon…" description: "\"SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket and Dragon capsule were developed at a cost dramatically below that of traditional cost-plus programs - this should be a wakeu..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/170/robert-bigelow-10583_business_spacex-s-falcon-9-rocket-and-dragon-caps_1148890.jpg" --- # SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket and Dragon capsule were developed… ![“SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket and Dragon capsule were developed at a cost dramatically below that of traditional cost-plus programs - this should be a wakeup call that it's time for a new way of doing business.” quote by Robert Bigelow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/170/robert-bigelow-10583_business_spacex-s-falcon-9-rocket-and-dragon-caps_1148890.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/170/robert-bigelow-10583_business_spacex-s-falcon-9-rocket-and-dragon-caps_1148890.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/170/robert-bigelow-10583_business_spacex-s-falcon-9-rocket-and-dragon-caps_1148890.jpg) > “SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket and Dragon capsule were developed at a cost dramatically below that of traditional cost-plus programs - this should be a wakeup call that it's time for a new way of doing business.” [Robert Bigelow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-bigelow/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Traditional cost-plus models are inefficient; innovative approaches can drastically cut expenses. **In simple terms:** New business models save money. Key Takeaway Adopt lean, outcome‑focused development. Themes innovation efficiency business models Mood optimistic critical Type inspirational analytical When to use this quote - startup funding - government contracts - space missions - technology R&D Key Concepts cost‑plus lean development public‑private partnership Questions to Reflect On - How can incentives be aligned for faster innovation? - What risks arise from rapid cost reduction? A Different Perspective Legacy contracts may resist change and slow adoption. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Business](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/business/) [Capsule Developed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/capsule-developed-3236674/) [Developed Cost](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/developed-cost-3236673/) [Dragon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dragon/) [Dragon Capsule](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dragon-capsule-1838348/) [Falcon Rocket](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/falcon-rocket-3236672/) [New](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/new/) [Space](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/space/) [Spacex Falcon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spacex-falcon-3236671/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/way/) ## Related quotes > [The re-use of a Dragon capsule is yet another example of how SpaceX uses cargo flights to prove out new technologies that can be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-pittman/the-re-use-of-a-dragon-capsule-is-yet-another-example-of-how-spacex/) [Bruce Pittman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-pittman/) > [It was always that detail that drove me. Ever since I was a little kid, I used to get into the nitty gritty... when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/graeme-base/it-was-always-that-detail-that-drove-me-ever-since-i-was-a-little-kid/) [Graeme Base](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/graeme-base/) > [I know how the birds fly, how the fishes swim, how animals run. But there is the Dragon. I cannot tell how it mounts…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/i-know-how-the-birds-fly-how-the-fishes-swim-how-animals-run-but/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) > [To have dragons one must have change; that is the first principle of dragon lore.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/loren-eiseley/to-have-dragons-one-must-have-change-that-is-the-first-principle-of/) [Loren Eiseley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/loren-eiseley/) > [“In the alchemy of man's soul almost all noble attributes--courage, honor, love, hope, faith, duty, loyalty, etc.--can be transmuted into ruthlessness. Compassion alone stands…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/in-the-alchemy-of-man-s-soul-almost-all-noble-attributes-courage/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [Fairy tales are more than true: not because they tell us that dragons exist, but because they tell us that dragons can be beaten.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/fairy-tales-are-more-than-true-not-because-they-tell-us-that-dragons/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The Soyuz is probably only slightly smaller than the Dragon.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-walker/the-soyuz-is-probably-only-slightly-smaller-than-the-dragon/) [Shannon Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-walker/) > [“Unable to help herself, she traced the tat, startled by the black and red ink mixed together. But it was the dragon design itself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-grant/unable-to-help-herself-she-traced-the-tat-startled-by-the-black-and/) [Donna Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-grant/) > [“I will always be within reach if you need me, little one...”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-r-von/i-will-always-be-within-reach-if-you-need-me-little-one/) [A.R. Von](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-r-von/) > [“You must see her pucker when she’s a dragon.” “This pucker can light your ass on fire, missy.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adrienne-woods/you-must-see-her-pucker-when-she-s-a-dragon-this-pucker-can-light/) [Adrienne Woods](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adrienne-woods/) > [I especially like the songs Hurry Up and The Curse Of Castle Dragon, and I often include them in my live show.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-gilbert/i-especially-like-the-songs-hurry-up-and-the-curse-of-castle-dragon/) [Paul Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-gilbert/) > [“If you banish the dragons, you banish the heroes...”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-solomon/if-you-banish-the-dragons-you-banish-the-heroes/) [Andrew Solomon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-solomon/) > [Either dragons should exist completely or fail to exist at all, he felt. A dragon only half-existing was worse than the extremes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/either-dragons-should-exist-completely-or-fail-to-exist-at-all-he/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [Arouse a bee and it will come at you with the force of a dragon.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/takeda-shingen/arouse-a-bee-and-it-will-come-at-you-with-the-force-of-a-dragon/) [Takeda Shingen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/takeda-shingen/) > [ “Draco Dormiens Nunquam Titillandus \[ never tickle a sleeping dragon \]” ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-k-rowling/draco-dormiens-nunquam-titillandus-never-tickle-a-sleeping-dragon/) [J.K. Rowling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-k-rowling/) ## More by Robert Bigelow > [The big worry is America is asleep and does nothing, while China comes along, lands people on the Moon, and decides, 'We might as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-bigelow/the-big-worry-is-america-is-asleep-and-does-nothing-while-china-comes/) [Robert Bigelow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-bigelow/) > [Our business has always been to create the structures, the environment, for people to do a variety of activities, not for us to conduct…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-bigelow/our-business-has-always-been-to-create-the-structures-the-environment/) [Robert Bigelow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-bigelow/) > [There's things I don't mind talking about and things I do mind talking about.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-bigelow/there-s-things-i-don-t-mind-talking-about-and-things-i-do-mind/) [Robert Bigelow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-bigelow/) > [You can go into space with a couple of scuba tanks. You can go with 'big, dumb, heavy' solutions that are reliable. The higher…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-bigelow/you-can-go-into-space-with-a-couple-of-scuba-tanks-you-can-go-with/) [Robert Bigelow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-bigelow/) > [I don't think we want to be overconfident.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-bigelow/i-don-t-think-we-want-to-be-overconfident/) [Robert Bigelow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-bigelow/) > [The time will come when the average citizen will be able to travel in space. If you have the money, and the time, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-bigelow/the-time-will-come-when-the-average-citizen-will-be-able-to-travel-in/) [Robert Bigelow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-bigelow/) > [I would love to get people on board the whole space subject in a grass-roots way that has never been done before.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-bigelow/i-would-love-to-get-people-on-board-the-whole-space-subject-in-a/) [Robert Bigelow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-bigelow/) > [There has been and is an existing presence, an ET presence. And I spent millions and millions and millions - I probably spent more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-bigelow/there-has-been-and-is-an-existing-presence-an-et-presence-and-i-spent/) [Robert Bigelow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-bigelow/) > [I've spent a lot of money doing extensive research. I've spent a lot of time doing extensive research. I hope I have information the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-bigelow/i-ve-spent-a-lot-of-money-doing-extensive-research-i-ve-spent-a-lot/) [Robert Bigelow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-bigelow/) > [The BA-330 is three times the size of anything on the ISS.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-bigelow/the-ba-330-is-three-times-the-size-of-anything-on-the-iss/) [Robert Bigelow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-bigelow/) > [Well, the ultimate fantasy for us is to have a cruise ship in orbit, maybe around the year 2015. A cruise ship implies that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-bigelow/well-the-ultimate-fantasy-for-us-is-to-have-a-cruise-ship-in-orbit/) [Robert Bigelow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-bigelow/) > [We would like to be part of the process of establishing a lunar station and other kinds of space outposts - maybe someday helping…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-bigelow/we-would-like-to-be-part-of-the-process-of-establishing-a-lunar/) [Robert Bigelow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-bigelow/) > [I cannot say enough good things about the companies that we're working with in Russia.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-bigelow/i-cannot-say-enough-good-things-about-the-companies-that-we-re/) [Robert Bigelow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-bigelow/) > [The moon is a very valuable asset for a lot of reasons.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-bigelow/the-moon-is-a-very-valuable-asset-for-a-lot-of-reasons/) [Robert Bigelow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-bigelow/) > [I caught on to how to talk to sellers and convince them to sell to me on sweat equity. Little or no money down.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-bigelow/i-caught-on-to-how-to-talk-to-sellers-and-convince-them-to-sell-to-me/) [Robert Bigelow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-bigelow/) [Explore all 64 Robert Bigelow quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-bigelow/) ## More Business quotes > [Companies with cultures that celebrate diverse opinions and encourage the exchange of ideas have an advantage when solving difficult problems. 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It's like whatever I do business wise, it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/snoop-dogg/i-m-a-business-first-and-foremost-so-whatever-my-business-is-it-s/) [Snoop Dogg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/snoop-dogg/) > [Many early-stage entrepreneurs make one simple mistake: Describing this 'big picture' in vague concepts and words.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sunil-nagaraj/many-early-stage-entrepreneurs-make-one-simple-mistake-describing/) [Sunil Nagaraj](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sunil-nagaraj/) > [Nobody has a crystal ball, and part of evolving a business plan is to say, 'I might have said we're going left, but I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-kavanaugh/nobody-has-a-crystal-ball-and-part-of-evolving-a-business-plan-is-to/) [Ryan Kavanaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-kavanaugh/) > [I think a business guy is different from an artist. They walk different paths. Artists create the best outputs when they're having fun. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-dragon/i-think-a-business-guy-is-different-from-an-artist-they-walk/) [G-Dragon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-dragon/) > [ “\[S\]ometimes, when you are a food person, the possible irrelevance of what you are doing doesn’t cross your mind until it’s too late. (Once,… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nora-ephron/s-ometimes-when-you-are-a-food-person-the-possible-irrelevance-of/) [Nora Ephron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nora-ephron/) > [If you have a different mindset, you will have a different outcome: if you make different choices from your peers, your life will then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-ma/if-you-have-a-different-mindset-you-will-have-a-different-outcome-if/) [Jack Ma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-ma/) > [“Some say the Earth is angry Because he wants no company; I say the Earth is angry Because he lives alone.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/n-k-jemisin/some-say-the-earth-is-angry-because-he-wants-no-company-i-say-the/) [N.K. 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