Newsgroups: sci.space
Path: utzoo!henry
From: henry@utzoo.uucp (Henry Spencer)
Subject: Re: SSX: Space Ship Experimental (summary)
Message-ID: <1990Jan17.054755.26942@utzoo.uucp>
Organization: U of Toronto Zoology
References: <9001121009.AA01853@zit.cigy.> <8266@xenna.Xylogics.COM>
Date: Wed, 17 Jan 90 05:47:55 GMT

In article <8266@xenna.Xylogics.COM> barnes@Xylogics.COM (Jim Barnes) writes:
>In article <9001121009.AA01853@zit.cigy.> bpistr@cgch.UUCP writes:
>>For about a billion dollars over four years we can build and fly SSX 
>>prototypes...
>
>If these cost/time to develop estimates are true, then why isn't someone
>(like Boeing) doing this now?  My recollection (I don't have any references
>at hand, so my memory may be wrong) is that Boeing takes longer and spends
>more money just to develop a new commercial plane (e.g. the 767).

Boeing does not even start serious development of something like the 767
until major customers sign on the dotted line.  The problem with SSX and
similar concepts is technical uncertainties and unknown market, i.e. no
customers willing to promise to buy a bunch.
-- 
1972: Saturn V #15 flight-ready|     Henry Spencer at U of Toronto Zoology
1990: birds nesting in engines | uunet!attcan!utzoo!henry henry@zoo.toronto.edu