X-33 Finally Bites The…Dust

According to Space.com, Lockmart’s bid to keep the carcass of the X-33 intact has failed.

Sensibly, it was decided that the whole was less than the sum of its parts, and have correspondingly distributed them among several other Space Launch Initiative programs. My opinion is that the value remains overstated, but at least now we don’t have to worry about the program being resurrected with Air Force money, as was being threatened a few months ago. It’s time to put this sad chapter in mismanagement behind us, and to move forward into an era of true commercial space transportation.