We are at the point where we can build a very robust and capable exploration vehicle. We don’t need to wait for technology development and I would like to keep NASA as far removed as possible from the main innovations I’d like to see: RLVs and cryogenic depots.

It won’t be much better if it isn’t.

“I have always been for such a move.”

Not really. Up until recently you have been advocating for space exploration in Orion capsules, not space-only vehicles that use capsules as lifeboats & CRV’s.

Regardless, I’m glad you’ve “upgraded” your thinking…

Thanks for the upgrade to my thoughts. I have always been for such a move. Isnt the Enterprise a space only vehicle?

Well, I do remember from the last movie, it was built on the ground. Anyway….

Of course! It seems though that neither our government nor our commercial side wants such a vehicle. Well maybe commercial will think about it later

See, this is where I think you have it wrong.
1. The commercial has demonstrated an interest in such a vehicle, but they don’t see a “if you build it, they will come” market, unlike earth to LEO market. (That said, I’ve seen some stuff from Bigelow that includes using their Sundancer & BA-330 as the basis for a deep space spaceship)
2. There are some within our government who do want such a vehicle – I point to the Nautilus-X, as well as last year’s budget (again, we aren’t at the point where we can build such a vehicle, without some tech development – I suspect we aren’t that far, but we aren’t there yet) – Had we gone with Obama’s proposed budget last year, I suspect this would’ve been a real possiblity come 2017-2020 time frame (which, unfortunately, were not in the 5 year budget projections)

Again, though, not to sound like a broken record – this is all in danger because of the “we have to build SLS using Shuttle systems”

What a nice surprise… Keep up the good work now.

The best possible way to ensure continued deep space exploration, would be to build a craft in orbit that could be continually used to travel out to various destinations! This would be the best possible answer. Certainly we could build such a vehicle, one that could be utilized for many, many years to come! We could reach the Moon, asteroids, and Mars, all with the same vehicle, using it for various manned science missions. Would this be bad, I dont think so. If commercial was used to get to this vehicle, all fine and well. Refueling in space has been shown, and about every other form of tech has been accomplished, so that a vessel of this type could be built today. We would have a permanence in space that nothing could beat. If colonization was desired, what better way to accomplish that then to have a vehicle in permanent orbit, ready to be dispatched to destinations unknown! Now that is the direction NASA should have.

Dennis, in many respects, I couldn’t have said it better myself.

The problem is, a large portion of this was rejected last year, and those pieces that stayed in are in danger of being choked to death by the Senate Launch System, particularly if it ends up being Shuttle derived

Absolutely, sustainable high flight rates need cheap lift and cheap lift needs high flight rates. NASA can break this deadlock by priming the pump, if I may be permitted a mixed metaphor. Once established cheap lift would enable continued high flight rates, and once high flight rates were enabled the market would demand them, because once it becomes cheap enough most people would like to visit LEO at least once in their lives.

It’s beyond me why any self-respecting space enthusiast could be anything else than thrilled by the prospect of opening up space for mankind. Yet many Shuttle supporters refuse to even address the argument (even though opening up space for mankind was the Shuttle’s primary mission in which it failed spectacularly), preferring to attack strawmen instead. I can understand why someone whose livelihood depends on the continued existence of the Shuttle political industrial complex would feel that way and we’ve seen enough examples of that here and elsewhere, but the existence of fans without an economic motive who do so puzzles and frustrates me.

Do you actually realize that?????