From: Spike Jones (spike66@attglobal.net)
Date: Wed Mar 21 2001 - 00:31:59 MST
Adrian Tymes wrote:
> Spike Jones wrote:
> > Sure but we already have a man-rated launcher, the shuttle. If
> > we had a good cheap satellite lifter, the two systems would
> > complement each other nicely. With Roton and VentureStar
> > dead, lets hope Kistler can make it fly. spike
>
> We already have satellite launching rockets, too. They're
> ultra-expensive just like the shuttle (maybe different numbers, but
> stil $too_much). That is the problem...
Ja, but what Im looking for here is to free Kistler et al from
having to make their products human-rated. Thats part of the
reason why the shuttle is so spendy: it needs three nines
reliability. Let NASA do what NASA does, lift primates
to orbit safely if expensively. Let the other launcher builders
trim the weight margins closer, and assume a higher level
of risk that we accept for our fellow humans. spike
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