Path: utzoo!attcan!uunet!lll-winken!csd4.milw.wisc.edu!uxc!garcon!pequod.cso.uiuc.edu!ahiggins
From: ahiggins@pequod.cso.uiuc.edu (Andrew Higgins)
Newsgroups: sci.space.shuttle
Subject: Re:  Dynasoar (was rumors regarding SR-71)
Summary: The demise of Dyna Soar.
Keywords: dyna soar, mcnamara, mol, gemini
Message-ID: <634@garcon.cso.uiuc.edu>
Date: 19 Mar 89 17:26:40 GMT
Sender: news@garcon.cso.uiuc.edu
Reply-To: jim@foobar.UUCP (Jim Garver)
Followup-To: <274@foobar.hf.intel.com>
Organization: University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Lines: 26

From: jim@foobar.hf.intel.com (Jim Garver)

> Okay, what was the nature and mission of the DYNASOAR?  I believe this was
> the next step after the X-15.  The whole airforce program to fly into
> space was cancelled and the focus shifted entirely on rockets, if I remember
> correctly.  Was Kennedy responsible for this policy change?  Where would
> we be now if the airforce program had continued?  Probably already flying
> hypersonic airliners maybe.

Interesting that you should ask now, because we just passed (on December
10) the 25th anniversary of Dyna Soar's cancellation.  I believe that Robert
McNamara (Sec. of Defense) had much of the responsibility for cancellation.
The funds earmarked for Dyna Soar were redirected to the Air Force's Manned
Orbiting Lab (MOL) which was seen to complement the Gemini program, rather
than compete with it.  Needless to say, the MOL was was a doomed project as
well.
--
Andrew J. Higgins	             | Illini Space Development Society
404 1/2 E. White St apt 3            | a chapter of the National Space Society
Champaign IL  61820                  | at the University of Illinois
phone:  (217) 359-0056               | P.O. Box 2255 Station A
e-mail: ahiggins@pequod.cso.uiuc.edu | Champaign IL  61825
                 ^^^^^^
"When the Waters were dried an' the earth did appear,...The Lord He created
 the Engineer"
 - Rudyard Kipling