I don't know if you are referring to me or not here:<br /><br /><font color="yellow"> Is it too much to ask to give just a little benefit of the doubt to the people who have spent years of their lives designing real launch vehicles as opposed to model rocket builders, software jockeys and other assorted hobbyists? </font><br /><br />If not then ignore me here, if so then please be advised that I quite probably have as much actual experience in the actual building and inspection of aerospace hardware as anyone you are likely to find on these boards. While I was not always (except for some six years on the original B!-A bomber, where I was in systems engineering) in design engineering, in order to do my job I had to be familiar with and work with such engineers.<br /><br />Most of my work was involved in the actual manufacturing or the quality control of manufacturing of almost all of the American liquid rocket engines from 1962 up to my retirement in 2000. These were actual engines such as the F1, J2, and all of the smaller RCS Engines on the Saturn rocket system. Also, the engines for the Delta II (and at the end the RS68 for the Delta IV), and the Atlas engines up until LM brought the Russians on board. I was also involved in the upper forth stage of the Peacekeeper ICBM missile, and also the Army's Lance missile system as well as parts of the guidance system of the Minuteman missile (and yes, at one time I also held a Secret clearrance from the Air Force). But most of my years of experience were spent on what is still the greatest single rocket engine achievement in the history of aerospace: the fantastic SSME's. Enough experience for you?<br /><br />When the SSME's were in design development there were two Gods of engineering that the engineers were to worship at the exclusion of all else. These were the God of performance, and the God of weight. These Gods were scrupulously followed at the exclusion of all else, mainly cost!<br /><br />In these particu