On Tue, 2 Jul 1996 17:06:47 -0700 (PDT), Brian Lane wrote:

...

I'm not sure who would launch it - a Japanese launcher? (ESA is strapped for cash, which was one reason for the phenomenaly stupid move of putting space probes onto the maiden flight of the Ariane 5.)

We'd want someone more reliable than ESA! I doubt that we could afford to have a backup satellite in case of a disaster. Once the Delta Clipper is functional the payload costs to orbit is supposed to drop tremendously.

Or, who knows. NASA could finally wake up, really that the shuttle sucks as a cargo hauler, start using something like the Phoenix (They stonewalled it - would have made them look bad) to build orbital industry and then setup giant solar-powered launch lasers and have surface to orbit at pennies per pound. Oh well... Who'd have thought we'd go to the moon and stop. | Chris Adams <adamsc@io-online.com> - Webpages for sale! Se habla JavaScript! | http://www.io-online.com/adamsc/adamsc.htp | Autoresponder: send email w/subject of "send resume" or "send PGPKEY"