Yes cos after all its got to take longer to develop the winged approach than
to use the tin can approach. I often marvel on how humans survive re entry
in the tin cans. The Soyuz looks like a blackened mess after landing most of
the time I gather, due to the ablative stuff sticking to the outside.

As for any of the private ones flying soon, Not convinced. Boiing should be
in front I'd imagine as they are part of the in crowd.
Brian

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Brian Gaff....Note, this account does not accept Bcc: email.
graphics are great, but the blind can't hear them
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"Jeff Findley" wrote in message
...
In article , says...

So what is the x37 actually for? Obviously someone thinks a winged
spacecraft is needed as development presumably cost more initially than
some
form of tin can with a heat shield.

It's the Air Force. Of course it's going to land on a runway, as that's
the only "proper" way to recover an aircraft. ;-)

Can this craft carry people perhaps in the future?

Not this version, but perhaps a follow-on that's a bit bigger.
Obviously it will need all of the equipment needed for life support.
But that step would not be unlike Dragon 1.0 to Dragon 2.0.

Lastly, noting that Nasa has decided on two crew transport
craft of the tin can variety, what of the one with wings
being developed? Will they get any money

SNC's Dream Chaser lost the last round of competition. They're
continuing work with the contract they already had (for the previous
round of funding). They're also protesting the decision, but so far
have not been making any real traction (i.e. they were unsuccessful in
getting an injunction against NASA paying the winners to continue their
work for the next phase).

Lots of articles about this online.

Jeff
--
"the perennial claim that hypersonic airbreathing propulsion would
magically make space launch cheaper is nonsense -- LOX is much cheaper
than advanced airbreathing engines, and so are the tanks to put it in
and the extra thrust to carry it." - Henry Spencer