/sci/ - Science & Math

I’m thinking of getting a minor in chemistry, since I’m already doing an extra year at Uni

>VentureStar was designed for 20 tons to LEO for $44 million per launch
Falcon 9 can do 17 tons to LEO for $50 million per launch
>VentureStar had a goal of flying 40 times per year
Falcon has reached 62 launches in a year

could it have worked?

NASA is still a welfare program for the MI Complex. At least when the Germans were in charge. They could get something done.

X-33 / Venture Star would have revolutionized launch capabilities. Yet it was canned and all technology scrapped. As it proved to be too good. Threatening the pork from NASA to defense aerospace.

This was ready to go and would have improved upon the shuttle. Instead it was canned. Leading to the shuttle to be prolonged. Which set back American manned space flight and lift capabilities by decades.