From: George Sherwood 

On Tue, 07 Mar 2006 07:00:50 +0000, Adam wrote:

> George Sherwood wrote:
>> I hope that it is true.  I have always really like the XB-70 design. Would
>> be great if that designed was used for the mothership for something like
>> this.  There is quite a bit more information in this weeks Aviation Week.
>>
>> http://www.aviationnow.com/avnow/news/channel_awst_story.jsp?id=news/030606p
1.xml
>>
>> For 16 years, Aviation Week & Space Technology has investigated myriad
>> sightings of a two-stage-to-orbit system that could place a small military
>> spaceplane in orbit. Considerable evidence supports the existence of such
>> a highly classified system, and top Pentagon officials have hinted that
>> it's "out there," but iron-clad confirmation that meets
AW&ST standards
>> has remained elusive. Now facing the possibility that this innovative
>> "Blackstar" system may have been shelved, we elected to
share what we've
>> learned about it with our readers, rather than let an intriguing
>> technological breakthrough vanish into "black world"
history, known to
>> only a few insiders. U.S. intelligence agencies may have quietly
>> mothballed a highly classified two-stage-to-orbit spaceplane system
>> designed in the 1980s for reconnaissance, satellite-insertion and,
>> possibly, weapons delivery. It could be a victim of shrinking federal
>> budgets strained by war costs, or it may not have met performance or
>> operational goals.
>>
>>
>> George
>
> Well if Burt Rutan can do it.....

Please, quite a difference between a sub-orbital flight and inserting an
airplane into orbit.  Not even close.

>
>
> I just think it's a pity that HOTOL could have been used as a bomber &
> thus was scrapped.

Never flown and never proved.

George

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