On Mon, 29 Oct 2012 08:46:56 -0400, Jeff Findley
wrote:


On top of that, why in
the world would they repeat the failure of requiring a launch on a NASA
controlled launch vehicle

If they have a big payload they're dreaming about and NASA has SLS in
service, they'd be able to launch it at no R&D cost to themselves,
which could be attractive to planners . There have been rumors and
whispers of a big payload they'd like to fly if they had a way to do
it, we heard such assertions about DIRECT years ago, and while we can
all dismiss it as wishful thinking or political exaggeration, the fact
remains that NASA is on record as saying DoD is interested.

with no alternative in case SLS has a launch
failure, delays, or other problems?

The same position they're in today, with Atlas and Delta both grounded
by this month's RL-10 failure. That also didn't stop them from
planning dozens of payloads which could only be launched on Titan IV.
But since SLS is only a launch vehicle, and not a manned spacecraft,
any grounding is likely to be much shorter than after the two Shuttle
tragedies.


Brian