http://www.spaceref.com/news/viewpr.html?pid=18458

Gosh, gee, Scoop over at Nasawatch expresses his amazement at the Thiokol wire.

I keep on thinking how good Goldin really was.

In his plan, the EELVs would be launching the lifting body (what was the number H-20?),
the RLV would be in operation by 2005,
and the shuttle would then be cut over to a heavy lifter.

Multiple ways of getting to space, and no single threading.
all within budget.

Of course, Scoop and SFF and MS were all cheering while Goldin got clobbered.

On the other hand, Boeing is now tied down due to having those price numbers. Where did they come from?, (who fed them?) and How were they discovered? Who prosecuted? Who decided?

I really don't have time to look into that.

Of course, not only was funding cut for the RLV, the alternative RLV design had been killed earlier - the rumor was spread about that Lockheed's suits did it, but did they really? Or was it someone else's?

I don't think Griffin has money enough for the CEV and the Boomstick at the same time. I certainly hope not. I really like the CEV with liquids as a way of ending dependence on the shuttle, with the SDLV HLV only coming along after the station is completed and the shuttle retired.

Whether Kliper or the CEV is chosen for Ariane and H-2 will be determined over the next year.