[lavaroise]

A story I heard about the approach of the Russian and NASA space programs is very illuminating. The story goes like this, when a Russian space agency official was told by a proud NASA official about the expense and effort of its engineers that goes into desgining even the so called astronaut or space pen that allows it to be used in zero gravity the Russian replied "we use pencils."

It all depends on the mission and what you want to do. If you want to commercialize space, you use the shuttle and technologies. If you want to make survival missions, then you use rockets and simplicity.

It is like choosing between being a survivalist or a surgeon. The missions are different and the tools of surgery are markedly different. You are comparing Apples and Oranges.

[Destro]

If you want to commercialize space, you use the shuttle and technologies.

That is pure garbage. The shuttle makes satellite placement what 100 -- 200 percent more expensive than disposable rockets?