While the Ares I crew launch vehicle has taken hits on performance, cost, and schedule, I think it has turned the corner and will be a huge success if allowed to continue. Still, I understand why some may want to leave it behind and move to a strategy of man-rating existing launch vehicles.
What I can't begin to comprehend is how it makes sense to throw out the Orion spacecraft as well. Orion's first flight test is in April! Orion will be ready for its first LEO launches in 2013! Why on Earth would we throw away a spacecraft that is just getting ready to take flight? We're just now getting to the good part.
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