Congress is telling NASA, already hamstrung with the immense cost overruns on the James Webb Space Telescope and the Curiousity rover, to build a $32 billion (that's what they say NOW) deep space launch system. Partly because the last one, Constellation, was so successful.
(insert laugh track)
It turns that they're going to use the tried-and-true, no basic new designs. That seems like a good idea. But it still requires mating these components into a working system.
New packaging for old US rocket
I have a better idea.
Yes, the real reason Congress pushed the Space Launch System SLS on a NASA that can't really take it is -- jobs. Well, here's the way to do it on the cheap; buy a license to build Ariane-5's from France. Set up a factory (or factories) to build them here in the U.S. of A. Ariane-5 works, it's a heavy lifter, and that will save TONS of money on design and testing. If Ariane-5 has to be adapted for humans, then there's time for that.
Obviously it's too sensible idea for Congress and NASA to do it. But it would work.
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