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<p>Several engineers who worked on the DC-X have since been hired by <font color="#002bb8">Blue Origin</font>, and their <font color="#002bb8">Blue Origin New Shepard</font> vehicle is based on the DC-X design. Blue Origin does not require the high cross range capabilities, and therefore uses a base-first re-entry profile. Also, the DC-X provided inspiration for many elements of <font color="#002bb8">Armadillo Aerospace</font>'s, <font color="#002bb8">Masten Space Systems</font>'s, and <font color="#ba0000">TGV Rockets</font>'s spacecraft designs.</p><p>Returning the DC-X design to NASA's active research portfolio has been considered for some time now. Some NASA engineers believe that the DC-X could provide a solution for a manned <font color="#002bb8">Mars</font> lander. Had a DC-type craft been developed that operated as an SSTO in Earth's <font color="#002bb8">gravity well</font>, even if with only a minimum 4-6 crew capacity, variants of it might prove extremely capable for both Mars and Moon missions. Such a variant's basic operation would have to be "reversed"; from taking off and then landing, to landing first then taking off. Yet, if this could be accomplished on Earth, the weaker gravity found at both Mars and the Moon would make for dramatically greater payload capabilities, particularly at the latter destination.</p><p>________________________________________________________</p><p>Is <font color="#002bb8">Blue Origin</font> the only one working on it or are there other companies and government working on it?</p> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>