In sci.space.history Matt Wiser wrote:
Quite true, Jorge. The Commercial advocates just don't have the
votes to get what they want. Alan forgot the old adage in D.C.: "The
President proposes, but Congress disposes." ObamaSpace is going to
be disposed of. If need be, buy an EELV like Atlas V, stick Orion on
it, and fly to ISS until these commercial providers live up to their
promises. Have Pads 39-A and -B for HLV and BEO. If the commercial
provider has the booster, but NASA has the capsule in the intirim,
fine. Only when commercial providers prove they can do the job
should the ISS and other LEO trips be handed over to them. Even
then, NASA should have a very strong oversight program in place, so
that safety doesn't take a back seat to a company's bottom line.

And yet, even then, the congresscritters defending the flow of funds
to their districts will still seek some reason why the commercial
types just are right for the task. I suspect that 99.9% of the
reasons given by Congress presently has everything to do with where
the work will be done, not what work will be done. That the present
COTS contenders haven't flown people is merely cover.

rick jones
--
It is not a question of half full or empty - the glass has a leak.
The real question is "Can it be patched?"
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