"Ultimate Buu" writes:
I was wondering: when will they figure out that SSTO is the only way forward
and that they need to revive the X-33 program, or start a new program based
on experience gained there.

First of all, SSTO is not "the only way forward".

Second, X-33 was a failure on the day that NASA chose the contractor
(and design). They chose the most technically challenging of the
three proposals. The project failed. NASA's conclusion is that we
currently lack the technology necessary to do SSTO. Unfortunately,
the conclusion does not necessarily follow. X-33 might not have been
a failure if one of the other designs were chosen.

The designs rejected had axisymmetric fuel and oxidizer tanks. By
launch vehicle standards, X-33 had extremely complex shapes for its
tanks that were extremely difficult to design and manufacture. Is it
any wonder that this is what killed the program?

Having NASA go back to try SSTO again is asking for another failure.
Where is the motivation to do it right after the first failure? NASA
would first have to accept the blame for the X-33 failure. Instead,
they blamed it on the technology. :-P

Jeff
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