[samtheman]

I agree that mankind needs to expand. And I agree that colonizing the solar system is our destiny.

But I do not agree that the success of military hardware, such as BMD systems, depends on the current success of today's manned space program.

And I do not agree that the current efforts in manned space exploration (such as the ISS and the shuttles) is the most productive and efficient way to build the infrastructure needed to colonize the solar system.

The ISS is all glitz and very little substance. It has nothing to do with military superiority and is a grossly inefficient contribution to solar system colonization.

[onedoug]

We'd better be able to fight in space on pretty short notice.

In the old Soviet days there was a secret military SpaceShuttle mission for which the launch time was only released about an hour before. When the launch did occur, the roll manuever was nearly 180 degrees, which put the vehicle on a decidedly northern (polar?) trajectory.

Around the same time I recall reading of a military satellite which the (then) Soviets had apparently lost all communication and even track of.

When that Shuttle mission returned, I think about 5 days later, I noticed on landing that the nosegear seemed to have hit the runway pretty hard after a long maingear roll, indicating something fairly heavy may have been in the cargo bay.

I wouldn't be a bit surprised if it was that missing Soviet satellite.

I think we'd better keep, and even quickly enhance this capability of getting personnel rapidly into orbit.