Nyarlathotep; you must be new here because we've chewed these bones over and over a hundred times on this forum. You truly are preaching to the converted, but a slightly cynical converted, nonetheless.<br /><br />Overpriced STS-derived gear? Perhaps. Outdated crud? No. And again NO. There isn't another booster concept in the world that could lift more than 100 metric tons, except Energia and that's moribund. With each SRB and SSME and Tank/corestage (ET derived) manufactured from scratch, how can it be old and outdated?<br /><br />Use the tools that work with the money you have. After Challenger, the SRBs became the second most reliable manned launcher ever made (after the Soyuz booster). Why chuck it in the trash? The Russians keep things that work, shouldn't America, too?<br /><br />Look: I've read every trade study pdf document on the Vision For Space Exploration that was ever made (THOUSANDS of pages). And you know what? Even the firms that were studying and/or advocating Atlas and Delta-derived EELVs, they ALL said that a 20-ton to LEO booster just wouldn't do. They would have to be upgraded to AT LEAST a 45 ton-to-LEO booster. That would take years and billions for what in effect would be almost all-new launchers, not to mention launchpads.<br /><br />$8-10 billion bucks and 10 years to develop an upgraded EELV that might just launch 50 tons? $10-11 billion and 10-12 years to develop a Shuttle-derived booster to launch 110+plus tons to LEO?<br /><br />It's a classic no-brainer. And I have to say that we "oldies" in this forum thrashed out all this booster argument stuff MONTHS ago. It's old news, old hat and hardly worth discussing anymore. Period.<br /><br />VASIMIR and gaseous core reactors? **** HOT STUFF!! No question, can't argue with that. But reality check:<br /><br />Project Promotheus and most other space nuclear initiatives: As of now in great danger of being canned. No nukes, my friend, unless Mr Bush and associates do a little lobbying in the right ears. Not gon <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p> </p><p>One Percent of Federal Funding For Space: America <strong><em><u>CAN</u></em></strong> Afford it!! LEO is a <strong><em>Prison</em></strong> -- It's time for a <em><strong>JAILBREAK</strong></em>!!</p> </div>