<< b >This was really brought home to me when I found out that the forty-foot truss that was recently launched to the ISS cost almost $800 million dollars. < /b >

The truss delivered by Atlantis is only the center piece of the whole system which is about 44 feet long and 14 feet wide. Once all the pieces are connected the truss will be longer than a football field. The truss houses wiring, plumbing, computers, GPS navigation system and a railway for the Canadian arm to travel along, plus it will be the anchor for massive solar panels. Over 200 fastening connections and over 150 wiring connections had to be accomplished during the EVA's to get the truss up and working. It has 475,000 parts and weighed nearly 27,000 pounds.

Here's a better description; S0 truss a marvel of complexity

BTW, what vehicle besides the Shuttle is capable of launching this 27,000 pound truss plus 7 astronauts to ISS for assembly and bring the astronauts home along with desent cargo from ISS? Not up on rocket capacities but don't know of one currently working and was just wondering.

SteveS