Were stuck until the private sector starts a spaceplane program, NASA could be involved, but better that the military were involved.

Lets face it test pilots are much less risk adverse than civilian astronauts. NASA can’t succeed because it’s to risk adverse. The military on the other hand, sees failure, and yes…even the loss of a test pilot or two, as an unfortunate, but expected cost of advancement. In addition, the military has the advantage of black programs: Failures can be kept from a public that doesn’t have the stomach for the loss of a human life or two.

Witness the Missile Defense program, its has had many set backs, but it keeps plodding along. One or two failures aren’t allowed to kill the broader vision. They are accepted, and even used as a tool for learning.

Scott