In article ,
says...

"Matt Wiser" wrote in message
...

Want another customer: Check this out: the Canadians are looking at
using
SLS to fly their own Mars rover. Nothing definite yet, but a successful SLS
flight with an interplanetary payload sells the system to other interested
parties.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/49598478...science-space/

Then the Canadians are nuts. They can launch a damn fine mission on an
existing rocket for cheaper and sooner.

They are "looking" at SLS, but that does not mean that the Canadian
politicians and taxpayers are ready to sign up to actually pay for an
unmanned Mars mission.

A kid getting his parents to let him window shop costs the parents next
to nothing. A kid trying to convince those same parents (i.e.
taxpayers) to actually buy that shiny new toy in the window a *much*
harder sell.

One look at Astronautix.com is all the evidence anyone needs to prove
that paper/Powerpoint studies are far cheaper, and far more numerous,
than actual hardware flying actual missions.

Jeff
--
"the perennial claim that hypersonic airbreathing propulsion would
magically make space launch cheaper is nonsense -- LOX is much cheaper
than advanced airbreathing engines, and so are the tanks to put it in
and the extra thrust to carry it." - Henry Spencer