NASA should prioritize low $/kg

> From: Marcel
> NASA is moving in the right direction as far as the Ares V is
> concerned. The Ares V should give us the ability to place at least 130
> tonnes into Leo and 66 tonnes into lunar orbit.

Have you ever looked at NASA's own studies for even it's biggest 'wet dream'
40 man lunar bases? I have. The single heaviest object only masses about 4
tons. If we needed to launch 50 ton nuclear reactors to power anything, I
might agree with you that throw weight was useful. But we're not. The vast
majority of that launch mass is going to be fuel. Since we've been using
fuel transfer for about THIRTY YEARS, I don't see going back to the all at
once approach as a step forward. Even in their current plans, the only
really heavy item is the lander itselff, and a cheap VTOL could double as
that easily.

> However, we need a real reusable Earth to orbit people shuttle. So I
> think NASA made a big mistake by not pursuing the development of the
> Delta Clipper VTOVL.

The problem is that they did persue it - in their own way, by turning into a
technology development project. Instead of using it to test the idea of
aircraft-like operations, they used it to test carbon fibre oxygen tanks. As
I've said before, deliberately or ignorantly, as an institution, NASA
sabotarges competition any chance it gets.

John