I really was hoping you could tell me I'm wrong. Damn politicians, don't you wish they'd just give NASA a big budget with no strings attached, so that people with a clue could make policy? Damn....

(Same sort of wishful thinking I'm moaning about, isn't it?)

Ms. Dunbar's remarks point out a downer that hadn't occurred to me, but of course a crew-carrying vehicle only solves that problem, but not the problem of transporting large equipment and construction parts. The mitigating factor, I think, is that there are a lot of heavy-lift options available, albeit few in the American fleet; but I'd have no problems hiring the Russians to do what they've proven to do so well with their muscle rockets and Progress cargo boats.