Comment Re:Sad, actually (Score 1) 285
Why all of the unfounded pessimism? Are you people completely unaware of how many rockets we launch into space every year?
nobody that knows anywhere near as much about rocket engines left.
Then who the hell designs and builds the rocket engines for the Ariane, or the Atlas, or the Delta, or the Falcon, or any of the half dozen or so other heavy lift rockets in operation or development around the world?
While the main engines for the Shuttle are somewhat of a marvel, I doubt they could be reproduced today either. The people resources simply aren't there - it would take 10 years of experimentation and learning about rockets.
What?? How do you think they refurbish them after the missions if they don't understand them completely? How was Rockwell able to build a new shuttle in the early 90's, including rocket engines, if no one is left? That space division, now owned by Boeing, still designs and builds new rockets. How can that possibly be?