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From: Slocum@HI-MULTICS.ARPA
Newsgroups: net.space
Subject: Re: What now?
Message-ID: <860205154913.136642@HI-MULTICS.ARPA>
Date: Wed, 5-Feb-86 10:49:00 EST
Article-I.D.: HI-MULTI.860205154913.136642
Posted: Wed Feb  5 10:49:00 1986
Date-Received: Sun, 9-Feb-86 04:39:46 EST
Sender: uucp@ucbvax.BERKELEY.EDU
Organization: The ARPA Internet
Lines: 36

Here are some random thoughts, rumors, comments, etc. about
what the Shuttle and the recent disaster:

I recall that the Pentagon got a bit of flak last year for getting
funding to build some Titan rockets as backup launch vehicles for
large satellites.  I also heard on the news during the coverage 
last week that some Titans were being taken out of silos and 
refurbished as a part of this project. (Certainly to be replaced. 
Wouldn't want to be vulnerable to instant attack :-)

I also heard a rumor that there are enough spare parts to build a 
complete shuttle, and there is always the Enterprise to use for 
parts.  I should think that putting together a spare part version 
would take about 6 months to a year.

Ariane is booked solid for two years, so there is not going to be much
off-loading of launch capability. I did hear a most annoying 
idea that the US should consider sending their launch capabilites
overseas, as if they were talking about computers or cars.

I think that the US should correct the problem in the Shuttle, and
design a new shuttle.  The next design has the successes and mistakes
of the first to build upon.  After all, the Wright brothers second plane
was much improved over the first.

If the space program got as much support as SDI does, we would be
living in space by now, practically.  I hear that Reagan wants to
double the SDI budget in '87 and again in '88. And similar growth
thereafter.  In '87, the SDI budget will equal the NASA budget, if he
gets his way and also if the NASA budget doesn't get cut.
And this is in three years from the start of the program.
Just think where we could be if NASA's budget had seen that kind of
growth. 

    Brett Slocum
    (Slocum\@HI-MULTICS.ARPA)