Jonathan wrote:

Four years to first SSP flight demonstration might be shorter
then the CEV and stick. And that would make sense as
SSP demonstrator wouldn't be nearly as complex as
an entirely new set of moon capable manned rated
spacecraft.

Big oil and big aerospace are against SSP for obvious reasons.
But only or self-serving reasons. Everyone else will benefit
from SSP. The choice is between who benefits, a few CEO's
that are well connected to this administration, or the rest
of the world?

What is obvious is that the moon and mars idea is dying, if not dead.
What is also obvious is the only viable alternative goal is SSP.
A goal that by any measure is easier to sell, fund and maintain
for the long term. A goal that by any measure has far more
potential benefits to society.

I find it odd for someone to cling to that which is dying, while
trying to destroy the only alternative. That's a recipe for
completely abandoning the manned space program.

And just in case the obvious hasn't occurred to some of you just yet,
since it takes a rocket to launch anything into space, let alone some
solar panels, and that rocket will then be in space where it belongs,
then the entire backlog of necessary space demonstration projects yet to
be completed by mankind : the SPS (SSP) solar power satellites, the SSTO
(single stage to orbit), CELSS (closed ecological life support systems),
RLV (reusable launch vehicles via nose cone engine return), and the IPD
(integrated propulsion demonstration), can be easily accomplished by one
integrated development program, utilizing engines that we already
possess (without an engine development program) and which will soon be
available for immediate use - the SSMEs (space shuttle main engines).

Plus, we even have a new destination : Ceres.

http://cosmic.lifeform.org/?p=302

Thus, with a suitable chief executive, all of the futile and incompetent
efforts of the Bush administration in space, are negated in an instant.

If that isn't reason for optimism in space (ignoring the national debt)
then I just don't know what is. Griffin has utterly destroyed NASA. We
have exactly one chance to put this back onto the right track again.

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