ljk "I don't know if you noticed—between fashion reports from red carpets of
Hollywood awards shows or the return of new Battlestar Galactica episodes—but
NASA is thinking about dropping methane-type propellants from its requirements
for the Crew Exploration Vehicle (CEV) program in favor of harder to handle, yet
more dangerous hypergolic propellants like those used in the shuttle and other
old-school systems."

Actually the new Battlestar Galactica is about all I watch on TV anymore (Not counting Mythbusters and the History channel).

I did read that the other day about them dropping the methane-type propellents. I saw where they are going to pretty-much use the Shuttle boosters.

I saw where the Shuttle is planned on being retired around 2010-2011. The CEV’s are supposed to by flying by then. I am thinking that maybe they should consider keeping the Shuttles around until after a year or two of CEV operation.