Marines Want Spaceplane

[davekill]

excerpt of an article by David Axe - From Military.com
http://www.military.com/features/0,15240,104739,00.html

Unlike the Air Force, Navy and Army, all three of which sponsor expensive satellite programs, the cash-strapped Marines are pushing just one space concept. It's called Small Unit Space Transport and Insertion, or SUSTAIN, and it's a reusable spaceplane meant to get a squad of Marines to any hotspot on Earth in two hours -- then get them out. The idea is to reinforce embattled embassies, take out terrorist leaders or defuse hostage situations before it's too late. "The Marine Corps needs [this] capability," Brig. Gen. Richard C. Zilmer told Congress in 2004.

"Space - Above and Beyond" anyone?

[Jen]

WOW!!!! I wonder if they'll actually do that. Very cool.

[X]

It's been on the drawing boards for almost a five years or more now. I think that it has to happen sooner or later.

[MouseSlayer]

next step . . . drop pods. go "SPACE MARINES"!

[Blackride]

Sometimes I wonder if the cost of something like this is really worth it or not. I am all for the "coolness" of it, don't get me wrong. Any thoughts on this? Just trying to "spark" a little conversation on it.

[Darkmolerman]

next step . . . drop pods. go "SPACE MARINES"!

Heheh For the Emperor! I love the Space marines!

[PepperDude]

I have to agree with Blackride on this one--at least for now. I read about this a while ago and I like the additional expeditionary capability it will offer the Marine Corps; and the coolness factor goes without saying. One of the big reasons this is being proposed is that the U.S. will no longer have to ask countries for permission to enter their airspace to launch a military operation. If I remember correctly, the article I read mentioned that outer space legally begins at 50 miles above sea level. So any vehicle or satellite can legally operate over a country at that altitude. Marines will just fly over any area of the planet, land and kick @$$.

However, I don't see this happening any time soon. While I do like the capability (it seems so coo!), will the costs justify the returns? How many times will Marines launch this type of operation? How big will the impact of the operations be? The Corps will have to sell this to Congress--maybe by developing some kind of new SUSTAIN doctrine. They were able to develop an excellent amphibious doctrine in the 1930s so maybe they can do the same with SUSTAIN.

Also the Marine Corps really can't do this program on its own. It's always hurting for cash and it doesn't have the resources or technical know-how to develop this project. It has to do it with the Navy or the Air Force or some other entity.

[Darkmolerman]

OK if stargate has not taught me something I learned that people don't like the US having a big thing ie. a strike force being able to deploy anywhere

[Blackride]

OK if stargate has not taught me something I learned that people don't like the US having a big thing ie. a strike force being able to deploy anywhere

LOL. If Star Wars taught me anything, don't place all you eggs in one basket. AKA Deathstar