Jay Honeck wrote:
I wonder how many dollars the space program had spent by the time they
did the first sub orbital shot?


I'll bet that NASA spends more maintaining the mothballed shuttle fleet than
Rutan spent on the entire Spaceship One effort.

Almost certainly, but what's the point. The SS1 is a pretty purpose
built thing done almost 25 years after the Shuttle. Ain't got anywhere
near the payload or capability of the Shuttle as well.