posted on Feb, 19 2014 @ 04:20 PM
It's important to note that NASA varies depending on the kind of program, overall it's unmanned spaceflight is pretty good, the same is true for the
aerospace/aeronautical research branch of nasa.
The manned spaceflight program seems to be a jobs program to a degree. (understatement)
Why NASA hasn't made this already is actually pretty simple; there hasn't been the political will, or economic reason too, building single-use
rockets provides good-paying jobs to a large number of Americans, (and Russians, and various EU member-citizens for other agencies).
well paid americans are more likely to re-elect the guy who would keep them in said jobs,
developing stuff like this is expensive, really really expensive, like as in numbering in at least 100's of millions -expensive.
Skylon ironically draws heritage directly from another government program; HOTOL.. which was funded in the 1980's and cancelled in the 1990's as it
suffered overruns in budget and schedule and problems with the pre-cooler frosting over(a problem that's only recently been solved).
hopefully this won't be cancelled due to some political nonsense and token budget cuts, and the prototype will succeed.
I apologize if this is necro-ing