Russian's:"Its our space age now" (saturn, Apollo, new)

[d-boy-80]

They're right. The US has failed to both develop alternate space vehicles and to fund. Space Shuttle was originally supposed to be better than Saturn rockets, having bigger payloads, and cost less. We put our eggs in one basket.
Cosmic Log - Russians: 'It's our space age now'

By Alan Boyle
Russian space officials are hailing the end of the space shuttle era as the beginning of the "Soyuz epoch." For at least the next few years, Russian Soyuz craft will serve as the only way to get back and forth from the International Space Station, and NASA will be paying up to $63 million a seat for the ride.
Russian cosmonauts will also make up half of the space station's crews from here on out, even though NASA has paid most of the estimated $100 billion cost of construction.

[DinsdalePirahna]

We have already been there once with a big gap between Apollo and the first Space Shuttle. Yes we should have been building a replacement vehicle to prevent such a gap, but companies such as SpaceX and Boeing (and a few others) will fill close the gap.

[d-boy-80]

Originally Posted by DinsdalePirahna

We have already been there once with a big gap between Apollo and the first Space Shuttle. Yes we should have been building a replacement vehicle to prevent such a gap, but companies such as SpaceX and Boeing (and a few others) will fill close the gap.

Idealistically thinking there.

[DinsdalePirahna]

maybe. Everytime I here a story such as this I think "Portugal"
once one of the richest and boldest seafaring nations that is now reduced to being a third world economic basket case.

[Bo]

Originally Posted by DinsdalePirahna

companies such as SpaceX and Boeing (and a few others) will fill close the gap.

These companies are poised to eclipse Russia's space program.

[d-boy-80]

Originally Posted by Bo

These companies are poised to eclipse Russia's space program.

lol! Maybe Boeing but not SpaceX.

[Bo]

Originally Posted by d-boy-80

lol! Maybe Boeing but not SpaceX.

I meant collectively. Collectively, they'll put more people into space within 5 years than Russia has for the 50+ years it has had a space program.

[d-boy-80]

Originally Posted by Bo

I meant collectively. Collectively, they'll put more people into space within 5 years than Russia has for the 50+ years it has had a space program.

Well hasn't Boeing and Alliant and Lockhead and United already done that with the space shuttle and Apollo programs?

[Bo]

Originally Posted by d-boy-80

Well hasn't Boeing and Alliant and Lockhead and United already done that with the space shuttle and Apollo programs?

But those companies were working for NASA. I don't believe anyone questions that NASA eclipsed Russia's space program.

I thought we were talking about the era that's about to start.

[d-boy-80]

Originally Posted by Bo

But those companies were working for NASA. I don't believe anyone questions that NASA eclipsed Russia's space program.

I thought we were talking about the era that's about to start.

Sorry got sidelined.

And yeah, I am thinking that Russia will still be able to beat SpaceX and others. They have some interesting concepts that they are working on. The companies mentioned don't have the resources to compete with the efforts of an entire nation.