Russia-America space alliance

>>>>No argument from me on X-33. NASA dumped the very successful DC-X
program
for the more glamorous X-33. X programs are supposed to be risk-reducers,
but the failure of the X-33 program did not reduce risk (to put it
lightly!). They should have built a replacement for DC-X and continued
along that evolutionary path.>>>>

A Big Dumb Booster program, like Sea dragon, would have been
technologically easy for NASA and would have allowed them to compete with
the Russians for commercial launches. The development time table for such a
booster could be extremely rapid, within 2-3 years they would have a
working prototype. The Sea Dragon type launch vehicle seems particularly
attractive to me. No specialised materials are required, the pressure fed
engine technology is extremely simple and the lower stage is fully
re-usable. The concept does not require any launch facilities at all, just
a ship yard where it can be assembled and then towed out to the sea. The
expendable upper stage of the vehicle could be moulded out of fibre-glass
for pennies a pound. What's more, the concept could be scaled up to the
point where 100t to LEO (or greater) boosters are feasible.

I have to wonder whether or not NASA is heading towards another expensive
flop, with its SSTO program.

Tony

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