Jim Kingdon wrote:

http://www.aviationnow.com/avnow/new...s/SSO11014.xml
Sounds almost like the reemergence of the Soviet "Spiral-50/50" system
in an unmanned payload form.



As far as I could tell from a little quick web searching, Spiral-50/50
was going to be much bigger (in terms of payload capacity and vehicle
size), involve more new technology, and cost a lot more to develop.


As in break-the-bank expensive in regards to the cost of developing the
manned Mach 6 booster; but the overall concept is somewhat similer.

Pat