[jc173]

I have my doubts as to whether modern warships and aircraft have operational, maintenance, and personnel costs that run to 300% of the vehicle's cost every year. Granted a space craft would likely be more complex, but I think the relationships should be fairly close. But then again I suppose it depends on if you count only the crew and direct support personnel ie for a plane the flight crew, the plane captain, the maintenance crew etc. I suppose if you total up the indirect support costs it might be 25%, ie quartermasters, cooks, chaplains, JAG's, MPs for base security, construction engineers to maintain a base ad infiniti.