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From: elt@astrovax.UUCP (Ed Turner)
Newsgroups: net.space
Subject: Re: 5 YEARS TO REPLACE ORBITER?
Message-ID: <727@astrovax.UUCP>
Date: Fri, 31-Jan-86 12:34:09 EST
Article-I.D.: astrovax.727
Posted: Fri Jan 31 12:34:09 1986
Date-Received: Sat, 1-Feb-86 06:46:07 EST
References: <8601300732.AA03494@s1-b.arpa>
Reply-To: elt@astrovax.UUCP (Ed Turner)
Organization: Princeton Univ. Astrophysics
Lines: 11
Summary: 


As I understand it, the enormous delay and $2E9 price tag for a new shuttle
are the result of Rockwell retooling the shuttle assembly line for production
of the B-1 bomber.  Thus, building a new shuttle means building a new factory
or delaying the B-1 and doing two retoolings of the existing facilities.
Obviously, the timetable could be accelerated to some extent by spending more
money, although in view of the budget balancing push this may be a remote
posssibility.

Ed Turner
astrovax!elt