Akin's 39th Law

Akin’s 39th Law states,

Any exploration program which “just happens” to include a new launch vehicle is, de facto, a launch vehicle program.

Which is alternatively formulated as,

The three keys to keeping a new human space program affordable and on schedule:

• No new launch vehicles.
• No new launch vehicles.
• Whatever you do, don’t develop any new launch vehicles.

See Akin’s Laws.