"JohnMcGrew" wrote in message ...

Blame it on NASA. If there is a lack of alternative "heavy lift" capability,
it's only because over 20 years ago, NASA mandated that all future government
payloads be designed around the shuttle, and all alternatives to the shuttle be
scuttled. This was in order to make the shuttle a "necessity" to America's
space program.

Yep, believe it. Spent a bit of time at Martin trying to figure out how to boost
payloads into higher orbits from the shuttle cargo bay (using a recycled upper
stage from the Titan project). Made little sense.