Only three years away! (and always will be?)
I'm hoping to see Blue Origin go suborbital soon, and I would be pleasantly surprised if the are the first to orbit a manned commercial spacecraft on their own booster.
I actually agree that is a good way forward. It does presuppose however that the non-chosen company wishes to continue. I would hope that they do so choose. If the commercial HSF program grows, all three will be needed. It would be a shame to see one or two fold up because they weren't chosen. They have all come so far, and I know that all three do have the financial where-with-all to continue without NASA funding.
I'll keep my eyes out for those dancing unicorns...
If the commercial HSF program grows, all three will be needed. It would be a shame to see one or two fold up because they weren't chosen.
Quote from: rcoppola on 08/18/2014 01:52 amI'll keep my eyes out for those dancing unicorns...That's an understandable PoV but consider BO have developed a 100 000lb LO2/LH2 engine.No one does that (especially the LH2 part) just as a pleasant diversion to pass away the afternoons. Something is in the works, the question is what (and when)?
I love the fact that you use Boeing's capsule as the thumbnail for that article *hint hint* lol.
I advise extreme caution when "hinting" at who is in and who is out. Wait for the announcement please, then we shall see.
It could be argued if you can only fund 1 then that should be Boeing, as they have had the most full awards and are least likely to continue on their own funding.