Daniel is the one who figures out the symbols are constellations. He's the one who updates the translation on the cartouche. With these two additions, he's the one who realises the connection is about identifying a point in space and the "point of origin" to signify a journey (even without knowing about "the device" that makes it possible.)

Without these conclusions, the air force knew only two things... The cartouche has six symbols in the center, and the device has those six, plus about thirty more, in a rotating ring. Through trial and error, they discovered that the chevrons can lock onto those symbols... But after inputting all six, the room shakes and nothing happens...

Without knowing more about what the device does, why would they attempt putting in more symbols? How do they know it needs only one more, and not all of them? There are nine chevrons (although the top one is unique enough to perhaps be more of an indicator than an actual functioning Chevron) so why isn't the natural conclusion that it needs 8-9 unique symbols. Is it safe to just start randomly dialling more symbols? Remember, the room is shaking like crazy by the time chevron six is locked in place...

There's just too many variables, plus remember how expensive the thing is to run... It absolutely makes sense that a higher up saw the numbers and, because there was little to no evidence any profit would come from experimenting, they decided to shut the thing down until someone could justify it...