Re: Russia's Clipper

"Jorge R. Frank" <jrfrank@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in
news:Xns970FCAF03D7D9jrfrank@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx:

> Damon Hill <damonunoseisuno@xxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in
> news:Xns970FA710AE9EBdamon161attbicom@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx:
>
>> fairwater@xxxxxxxxx (Derek Lyons) wrote in
>> news:437d6b3d.5095860@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx:
>>
>>> Damon Hill <damonunoseisuno@xxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
>>
>>
>>>>Kliper might be the DC-3 of manned spaceflight.
>>>
>>> It's too bad fanciful daydreaming isn't an Olympic event - you'd be
>>> in the running for the gold.
>>
>> I've always preferred optimism; it annoys the pessimists.
>
> My prediction: Kliper will exceed neither the shuttle's record annual
> flight rate (9) or the record number of people carried in one year
> (58).
>
> That's no DC-3. And I don't think it's pessimistic either, based on
> what I've seen so far about Kliper's capabilities.
>
>

So what's your vision for a viable space transportation system?
Do you see any specific projects that might lead to opening up
human access to at least low orbit?

I don't see any spectacular developments; I'd settle for the
next level up in capability from expendible small-crew capsules, so long
as it's sustainable.

Alas, Shuttle wasn't it. CEV obviously will never be it. I'm hoping
Kliper will meet some of those capabilities, and become a marketable
commodity like any large commercial jet aircraft.

--Damon
.