Diversification

--- In spacesettlers@y..., Ian Woollard wrote:
> rabrooks@l... wrote:
>
> > --- In spacesettlers@y..., "Combs, Mike" wrote:
> > And NASA is pretty fixed on the space shuttle, a machine that was
> > overcomprised before the first one was built.
>
> It's the most capable vehicle in the world. It's also by a long,
> long way the most expensive. It's a Ferrari, but we need VW
> Beetles; and everyone looks at it, and thinks- look how expensive
> space is!

And like a Ferrari, it spends most of its time in the shop. ;-)

I think a better analogy for the space shuttle is a pickup truck. It
can carry passengers, but not too many. It can carry cargo, but not
too much. You can sleep in the back, but not very comfortably.

I think what we really need are analogues of busses, tractor-trailors,
and mobile homes -- especially if they can all share the same engine
and chassis.