This is my most favorite NASAWATCH/SpaceRef story:
What To Do When VSE and ESAS Flop
Plan B For Outer Space, Dennis Wingo, SpaceRef
Those of us who were disappointed with the demise of SEI shared the frustrations that I am sure that Dr. Griffin shared and is trying to fix today with the ESAS architecture. NASA is furiously working to make the Ares 1 overcome its problems while also looking to the future in the development of the Ares 5 and the retirement of the Shuttle. However, there are many of us out here who were around then, I have written before, think the same forces that killed SEI are going to kill the ESAS architecture and Constellation systems.
To which I wrote the following comment:
The Shuttle-C concept was a great idea then, and it’s good idea now.
It would be great though if someone could explain why it was blatantly ignored!