The shuttle program always bugged me because the shuttles are so mind blowingly inefficient it's ridiculous. I guess the shuttle program was really just step 5 in the 100 steps we need to take to conquer our solar system. More efficient ways to space travel are required if we hope to get anywhere. Is ion propulsion the be all end all? I doubt it, but it's another stepping stone. Although, I don't know what propellant they would use, cause I don't think the stuff they use is as readily avaliable as rocket fuel is.
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