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Posted by Will (in IL) [98.215.26.138] on Friday, July 22, 2011 at 23:42:06 :
In Reply to: Orion posted by Scott Ohio [70.63.15.70] on Thursday, July 21, 2011 at 22:35:10 :
Orion is a step back to the designs of old (Mercury/Gemini/Apollo). The Shuttle was a step forward, but was cut short due to budgets. It wasn't originally intended to launch like a rocket, but launch off the back of a large special designed high altitude "plane". But the US Government in the early 70's cut funds and forced them to go with a cheaper per launch design, but more costly (and unfortunately more dangerous) launch method in the long term (Pay me later more rather than less now).