An Idea...

--- In spacesettlers@yahoogroups.com, Douglas May wrote:
>
> Of course, this does remind us of one of the biggest problems with
> space exploration/ colonization right now: The problem of getting
> from Earth to orbit. So far the only technique we have is the brute
> force method of attaching an expensive, dangerous rocket to the
cargo
> and creating a huge explosion without destroying the cargo. This
> method seems totally inadequate for creating any kind of Earth to
> Space commerce. Our two options seem to be: improve rockets, or
> devise entirely different methods of lift. Everyone seems to long
for

Rocketry has the great advantage of being existing technology,
antigravity spaceships are fantasy.

The Space Shuttle program was mistaken because it was a prototype
vehicle that tried to become a commercial vehicle. What normally
happens with prototypes is that lessens are learnt from its trials then
they are corrected in the real craft. But not in this case.

Now NASA will be ignoring resusable vehicles and going back to
expenables. Hardly progress.

ta

Ralph