[boris]

"Big Honking Single Stage To Orbit!"

The problem with SSTO is lambda-P. If you don't know what lambda-P is, then you are unqualified to make such statements. A Big Dumb Booster--by definition--has a LOUSY lambda-P. It therefore cannot perform an SSTO mission and achieve orbit with a positive (non-zero) payload. End of discussion. If you don't know what you are talking about it is best to keep silent.

--Boris

[Phsstpok]

I was being flippant about SSTO.

I presume you prefer some "elegant" over engineered solution with exotic materials (that don't exist yet)?

I was convinced of this basic course by Jerry Pournelle. You have any bones to pick, argue with him.

Lead, follow, get out of the way or get burned in the backwash. Those are your choices. What we've got now ain't working, Jack.