[RightWhale]

How long would it take to build the BDB based on Space Shuttle technology? Seems like it would be relatively quick since the SRBs and the external tank and the main engines are already in a state of constant production.

[hopespringseternal]

It doesn't seem like it would take very long, does it? And you would be talking about massive lifting capability. This has been looked at before. I think it was called Shuttle-C?

The biggest obstacle is that congress has never been in the mood to approve anything that needed that kind of lifting capability.

[Travis McGee]

I think NASA has always struggled to kill a privately funded BDB in its crib.

Maybe they should be more open minded; a BDB rescue vehicle capability alone would be worthwhile!

Certainly a ten man "Apollo" type reentry vehicle that is not beaten to crap on the way into space would be a better way to go.