"Jeff Findley" wrote in message
...

"jonathan" wrote in message
...

Just one month before Bush wins the White House~


Atlanta Inquirer
10-14-2000
NASA, Lockheed Martin Agree On X-33 Plan

NASA and Lockheed Martin have agreed on a plan to go forward with the X-33
space plane program, to include aluminum fuel tanks for the vehicle's
hydrogen fuel, a revised payment schedule and a target launch date in 2003.
The launch date is a contingent on Lockheed Martin's ability to compete and
win additional funding under the Space Launch Initiative. NASA and Lockheed
believe it is critical to continue work to solve the last remaining barrier
to low-cost, reliable access to space.
http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P1-79131028.html


I see no malice by the administration here, only incompetence in picking the
most technologically challenging X-33 proposal and actually expecting it to
lead to a mature flight prototype.

Not malice, militarization.

My point is that few here seem to realize how ambitious our military
has become with their intended space capabilities. In their own words
below, the X-33 and X-37 would give them only a fraction of what
they /want/ for future military space operations.

"These demonstrators fill only small parts of the flight profiles
required to field and operate military space plane."

And it's quite clear the Pentagon now considers reusable and low cost to orbit
to be a very valuable future military capability. A capability our military
should have as soon as possible, but without making it available
to adversaries. Meaning secret!

The X-33 and X-37 were publicly canceled, but it's clear they
were simply taken over by the Pentagon to use the various
advances for some other ....far more ambitious....space capability.
Some future military space plane. It's not like they make their
goals a secret.

The X-33 and X-37 dropped off the face of the earth just as they
were about to become reality. Amidst an obviously choreographed
volley of criticism. The only reason you folks can't see that is because
you were here when it happened.

Looking back it's rather obvious the programs went black.

A few clips from the horses mouth below, which essentially says...


"take over X-33, X-37, also the NASA funding for SSO, then
cannibalize the technology for the future military space plane"



Military Spaceplane (MSP) and Reusable Launch Vehicle Study
AF Space Command


Space Forces

Providing Direct Combat Capabilities to
Promote Peace & Stability; Fight & Win
Rapid Aerospace Dominance
The Conceptual Framework for Employing
Aerospace Power in Future Joint Warfighting


X-33:

Demonstrates Launch Environment Dynamics

- Liftoff to Mach 11 (need Mach 15+)
- Opportunity to develop operational processes

X-37:

Demonstrates limited set of Re-Entry Environment Dynamics

- Heating and deceleration conditions from orbit to landing
- Opportunity to develop refurbishment protocols

These demonstrators fill only small parts of the flight profiles required
to field and operate military space plane.
X-33 and X-37 provide only limited advances in some technologies
enabling AFSPC capabilities but would help establish tech needs


..X-33 & X-37 have made significant contributions toward understanding achievable
vehicle performance, cost, and integration issues
..will improve system engineering tools and databases
..completion of programs would permit capture of vehicle integration and
operations data

X-33 Program Assessment

Program Plan

.. Complete 1 demonstration vehicle
.. 7 Flights
.. Max. Velocity: Mach 8-11
.. Launch site complete

..Perform an independent assessment of the X-33 and X-37 projects
.As an MSP demonstrator
.For a specific follow-on program

..NASA and AF need to harmonize space technology investments
.Incorporate SLI initiatives and funding

http://74.125.47.132/search?q=cache:...k &cd=1&gl=us



From...."the last remaining barrier", to "problem plagued" in just four
months!
Eight million dollars away from a new tank, the 'last barrier', to realizing
reusable low cost to orbit, and it just vanishes into thin air.

It really was problem plagued.


Problems that were mostly solved by the time it was cancelled.
Even NASA and Lockheed stated the fuel tank was the
"last hurdle". An eight million dollar hurdle??? Not much
of a hurdle when we're talking about an important step
for a future shuttle replacement.

You guys just don't seem to see the military value low cost
to orbit can have. Bush/Cheney define the notion of
being pro-military industrial complex.



Jonathan