So far, it is only a budget proposal, but, yes, Obama has proposed it. http://www.capitolnewsconnection.org/node/13783
The Orion/Ares combination wasn't really a replacement as it was a classic space capsule/launch rocket, and intended to be a platform for other missions as well (moon). Apparently, there will be seed money for a more shuttle-like reusable vehicle for low-earth orbit. Another approach is the Lockheed X33, defunded by Congress in 2001, but work continued privately. It is a small scale model, but, if everything were developed, could be scaled up to a size that could replace the shuttle. ________________________________ From: Han Maenen <[email protected]> To: U.S. Metric Association <[email protected]> Sent: Sat, February 13, 2010 5:52:03 AM Subject: [USMA:46620] Cancellation of spaceshuttle successor? I have read in two Dutch newspapers that the NASA-successor of the space shuttle has been cancelled. Any successor is to be build by the Californian company Space-X. Is that true? It was the project that was to revert to non-metric units according to NASA, as metric was deemed to be too expensive.
