On Tue, 22 Jul 2003 03:21:00 GMT, in a place far, far away, "Kim
Keller" made the phosphor on my monitor glow in
such a way as to indicate that:

(MSu1049321) made the phosphor on my monitor glow
in such a way as to indicate that:

I have to protest the idea Lockmart had little incentive to make the x-33
work... they invested more of their own money into that project than any
company has since Boeing bet the farm on the 747.

But much less money than they would have lost if the Titan and Atlas
had been put out of business.

Just how much money do you think they make off their ELVs?

Given that most of their business is cost plus, quite a bit more than
the expected value of a vehicle that they never had any intention of
adequately funding (since they've never evinced any credible interest
in any markets beyond those existing), and which they went after only
to preclude the possibility that anyone else might put their ELVs out
of business. Recall that Lockheed and Martin haven't demonstrated any
capability to make money commercially in decades. The only attempt by
either (the L-1011) was a financial disaster.

So far, it's been a pretty good bet, and the choice of that contractor
was simply more evidence of either NASA cluelessness and incompetence,
or negative interest in actually seeing a successful commercial launch
system that might compete with Shuttle.

I'm still not entirely sure which is the case, but I've trouble seeing
any other alternative...

--
simberg.interglobal.org * 310 372-7963 (CA) 307 739-1296 (Jackson Hole)
interglobal space lines * 307 733-1715 (Fax) http://www.interglobal.org

"Extraordinary launch vehicles require extraordinary markets..."
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