Great Plan, NASA

Just a few weeks ago, NASA retired the American space shuttle program.  No more shuttle launches.  They knew this was coming for years, so had plenty of time to come up with an alternate plan to maintain America's ability to reach orbit.  After all, important satellites need adjusting and replacing, and there are people on the International Space Station that need a few things, like air and water and food.


So, what was the long anticipated plan to replace the shuttles?  Don't. Just don't.  The Russians can take over.  And without government competition, NASA claimed private companies would race to develop a commercial orbital system.  In short, NASA's plan was to abandon the crewmen on the ISS and leave America with no way to reach space.


Today Russia crashed the supply mission to the ISS.  Officials were quick to say that the ISS doesn't really need the supply mission and all is well. Last week some media carried the story that essential work was continuing on the New Mexico Spaceport; a quick check reveals they've almost built a hanger.  Even if we had a commercial orbital launcher ready, which we don't, there's no pad to launch it.


How's that plan workin' for ya, there, NASA?