On 20 Aug 2005 02:36:24 -0700, "Alex Terrell"
wrote:


Combined with an Arianne or Proton launcher, than can put 20 tons into
orbit, what can the shuttle do that this can't do?

10 more tons. Lower-g launch and landing. Serve as an orbiting
construction site.

Only land 14 tons from Space, and there's not much demand for this
service.

Actually, yes there is. See MPLM, which never comes home empty.

Brian