re: I wonder if the scope of the shuttle failure over Texas is having an impact on NASA's willingness to look a capsules
>>If we could get a reusable capsule that costs half of the shuttle, then in theory we could have 8 "shuttle capsules"...Maybe one configured for cargo shipments, one for hubble repair missions, one for EP's Trip to the Moon, and one Named Raoul configured for a trip to Mars, and still 4 left over for moving crews to and from the Station.<<
The requirements NASA is handing the competing contractors specify the vehicle must function in both the manned and unmanned mode. Using it as a cargo ship is definitely part of the game plan, with only minor rework of the interior converting it to manned transport. Wording is included that indicates the ability to evolve the vehicle for future missions "to be determined".
Colonel K