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Debate continues as to whether the current launch programs, namely the U.S. Space Shuttle and Titan Rocket, have passed their level of effectiveness and economic practicability. Last fall, at a meeting discussing the United States' ability to launch into space between NASA, the Air Force and the Defense Department, the experts agreed on one primary item: the current systems are inefficient and uneconomical. This agreement came despite the years of study and shifting policy positions that have left the three organizations with sharply opposing views over the direction the country should take in launch vehicle development. It is believed by a growing number of insiders that single-stage-to-orbit vehicles, once developed, could provide a more reliable, and cost-saving method of space transportation.

Hermes, the retrievable manned spaceplane being developed by the European Space Agency and more than 12 of its member nations, is a major component of Europe's autonomous space infrastructure in the current decade. Its primary mission will be to rendezvous, dock and service the Columbus Free-Flying Laboratory, a serviceable facility designed specifically for automated in-orbit operation and utilization. The versatility of the Hermes design will enable it to perform missions to the International Space Station Freedom. Similar in design to the U.S. Space Shuttle, Hermes will afford its crew-members the opportunity to perform scientific experiments onboard.