From: Tony Williams 

Geo wrote:
> NASA's problem is not ideas, they have plenty of ideas and the know how to
> use them. NASA's big problem is they have too much overhead and are not
> being pushed so they move at a snails pace. Perhaps china and russia will
> change that last part now.

That's more or less what I'm saying. I'd add that NASA have a lot of
infrastructure which reduces the barrier of entry to refinements of
existing solutions. If they were staring with a clean slate I bet we'd see
some of those other ideas taken a lot more seriously. Russia is even more
entrenched and I doubt China will do more than follow in the footsteps.
Same applies to ESA.

I can't help but see a parallel with the development of computers and how
the micro was a toy at first but came to dominate.

You're right that re-entry is a tricky one though, if you want to re-use
the re-entry vehicle.

--
Tony

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