In $2024,$ Space Technology Company modified its model Z$2$ satellite to incorporate a new communication device. The company made the following expenditures:

The equipment will be used on this and other research projects. Depreciation on the equipment for $2024$ is $$22,000.$

During your year$-$end review of the accounts related to intangibles, you discover that the company has capitalized all of the above as costs of the patent. Management contends that the device simply represents an improvement of the existing communication system of the satellite and, therefore, should be capitalized.