One would think that after about twenty years in flight they would get the shuttle right. But as a result of NASA's fiddling we have lost our edge in space.
Time to privatize.
Together, Russia and China launch twice as many satellites as we do. I'm not too proud of that.
Glad to hear that you put at least some of your money where your mouth is. I just hope that you didn't join the Ansari X-Prize Foundation as recently as you joined Free Republic. ;)
BTW, I was one of the original X-Prize Foundation members, kicking in $500 back in 1994, when I attended the Foundation's inaugural dinner in St. Louis. Of course I met Burt Rutan (who I had met a decade before) and Dr. Peter Diamandes (who I had met several times before) as well as numerous astronauts (some I had met before) and X-Prize contenders (who I had known for years as well.)
I'm glad that you have come to the commercial space party, albeit a bit late - just stop telling us how wonderful NASA is, when it is apparent that you barely know more about it than the lamestream reporters do.
but they are decades behind what NASA can do.
Last I checked, over the last couple of years both NASA and the commercial guys (Rutan) have sent up two flights each. The commercial vehicle came back safely. The jury is still out on NASA's ability to do the same. Let's hope they improve their record.