Yeah, but - -
These were initially funded by taxes. Getting government to pay for the development of technologies which are then given to private industry is certaily permitted, even encouraged, under a conservative political doctrine. However, it is still taxing the largely unwilling and "laundering" the money through the government.
Having government fund a "private" rocket, or shuttle, or mission to Mars is still "taxing".
Y'know, the ONLY thing governments are good for is raising and spending money. Figuring what they get for their money isn't one of the things they are good for, neither is figuring out what they spend it on.
Arf