[Physicist]

I like it!

I don't. Why retrofit the shuttle lift system when Energiya boosters can be bought off-the-shelf? And we don't need the crew transfer vehicle, either: Soyuz works just fine.

The existing, unlaunched ISS modules are designed to be carried by the Shuttle. No problem: send the Shuttle up unmanned with its payload, and send the installation crew up with a Soyuz.

[RoughDobermann]

Personally, I'd rather we use a US launch system than buy it from the Russians.

[Frank_Discussion]

Energiya off the shelf? Never heard of that. I think they're about as off the shelf as our systems are. As far as Soyuz goes, their avaliablity is spotty, even when we are paying Russia to build them and SELL BACK to us.

We need to have our own manned ship, simpler than shuttle. But we control it's availability and the numbers in production. And we only have to pay for each one ONCE.

Shuttle-C would be pretty easy to implement as a cargo carrier, and it's been studied already. Sending up an unmanned shuttle is an intriguing idea, though. I hate thinking about spending launch mass on life support systems, crew space, and human-factors redundancy when it could carry another ton or two to orbit. But, it doesn't mean it wouldn't necessarily mean it's a bad idea, just expediency over efficiency. If it got the job done for the early flights, that sounds okay, as long as Shuttle-C or an equivilent were waiting in the wings.