From: X@xer.com   
      
   Hi all   
      
   In case anyone missed this"   
      
   http://www.nasa.gov/centers/marshall/news/news/releases/2006/06-053.html   
      
   or   
      
   http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2006/04/060418010238.htm   
      
   Is this old news, significant news, a milestone, promising?   
      
   AFAIK no one has operated a LV with methane/LOX before.   
      
   Methane is quite easy to keep liquid under relatively light pressure (or   
   cooling), and the techniques for handling LOX should BE well understood by   
   now.   
      
   Methane = smaller (and lighter) fuel tank and is easier to come by than   
   hydrogen.   
      
   Any other advantages?   
      
   Thanks for your time.   
      
   Regards   
   Frank Scrooby   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)