Jeff, the best way to stop this kind of “comments” is to delete all off-topic and insults-only posts

Move out of the way, little boy, you are interrupting the grownups.

If we are to discuss history, NASA has tried on many different occasions to “replace” the space shuttle. Nothing has ever come of any of those attempts. Attributing this record to “new space” partisans probably overstates their influence. X-33 had serious issues (both technical and financial) that led to its demise, and they had nothing to do with “new space”.

Spacer,

There is a pretty good story about how the X-33 finally ended here:
http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/content/?cid=4180

It is a reasonably accurate story, from one perspective, of the final days of the X-33.

The “New Space” advocacy community did NOT kill the X-33, unless (of course) you are suggesting it was their lack of support and interest in the X-33 that killed the program.

You do have a case in the following respect — IF the “New Space” community had supported the X-33 at the levels they had supported it in the mid-1990s, it almost certainly would have lived.

OK, you convinced me.

Yes, there is no question that the “New Space” community killed the X-33. They killed it with their lack of advocacy and support.

– Al

They had influence on the decision to initiate the program. They had none on the decision to kill it. None was needed. The program committed suicide.

I suspect the opposite is true.

That’s because you’re ignorant of space history, and live in a fantasy world. I know of no one in the New Space movement who regrets that the LM X-33 concept died, but they didn’t have to do anything to make it happen. They only regret that the X-33 program was so screwed up by NASA’s foolish selection of LM’s concept.

So you are claiming that the New Space advocate groups had no influence on NASA’s X-33 decision? That the various groups have no impact on national space policy? Despite of all the money they keep spending for their various campaigns in Washington? And the testimony at Congressional hearings their leaders are always bragging about?

Makes you wonder why bother giving then money if they have no impact… Or worry about their views when forming space policy…

I suspect the opposite is true. The New Space advocates did have an impact on NASA’s decision to kill the X-33 instead of giving Lockhheed the additional funds to finish it (about 20% more then budgeted if I recall, to replace the composite H2 tank). And now they are sorry they did so and are looking to blame NASA for doing what they advocated.