Political Crossfire Forums

F the Ruskies!

If the idea is to stop depending on the Russians, then the CST-100 is not the answer. It will fly, at least to begin with, on an Atlas V launcher...which of course uses RD-180 dual chamber engines...which are Russian. Designed and built. In fact, the US court of appeals has issued an injunction barring future import of RD-180 engines, as part of the effort to slap the Tsar on the wrist, ever so ineffectually. So, Boeing needs to design for a different launcher.

The CST-100 is not as far along as the Dragon Crew...but on the other hand the CST-100 is also basically a 1960's capsule. Proven, simple tech. SpaceX is trying to land propulsively...which strikes me as necessarily more expensive and far more time consuming to develop, test, and prove for man-rating.

So I dunno who makes it up there first. I hope Boeing chokes, but simple and proven are big advantages when it comes to actually strapping humans into something. SpaceX deserves the checkered flag simply on the basis of raw awesomeness and testicular girth.

Christ on a cracker, we've corporatized the space-program.

(sigh) no...honestly this is me:
http://www.theonion.com/articles/nation ... igue,1190/

oh my god f**k off

I'm betting it's Jimmyz.