[RayChuang88]

NASA last year had started to put out bids for engineering studies on a replacement for the Space Shuttle that would be flying in the next decade. It looks like that project will have to be accelerated with the unfortunate loss of Columbia. :-(

I agree it's time to revive the aerospace plane idea. Besides the fact you no longer need complicated vertical launch facilities, it also means the aerospace plane could operate from anywhere in the world that has at least a 12,000 foot runway. The only infrastructure improvements besides new hangers to store and service the aerospace plane is fuelling facilities for liquid methane or hydrogen slush fuel that the aerospace plane will need.

[LS]

Exactly. And the NASP program proved they could STORE and PUMP the hydrogen, so it is feasible.