According to a piece in the current Aviation Week, the Crew Exploration Vehicle could cost as much as $15 billion, a top-end estimate.

Holy smoking crap on a plate.

This is enough to build four to eight nuclear powered Seawolf-class attack submarines, depending on who you ask about the price, complete with armaments, life support, electronics, the works.

Or three Nimitz class nuclear aircraft carriers.

And you know, the military isn't known for its frugality either.

I know something about the design problems, and I have no idea how they could possibly spend that money. None. Not if they built everything from solid platinum.

Maybe this includes a new launch vehicle. That would at least make it slightly less insane.