"Frank F. Matthews" writ gravenly....


If the cost prevents developing a cheap cargo lifter then the space
program will continue to be a disaster.

No, if the Congressional pork barrels weren't so deep (and so many) and the
"required " expenditures of the USG so high more funds would be available.
There's no making things "cheaper", but the priorities involved in
allocating the funds necessary. No Congressman would allow NASA's needs to
get in the way of a highway or a subway in his/her district.

We've dithered along now for 20 years spending money on a dead-end "bridge"
program, using all available funds to kerep the current program alive,
subsidize Mir's operations (another "PR in the sky" effort for the Russians
and for us.