NASA has decided to develop a 100t to low-Earth orbit (LEO) in-line heavylift booster using a highly modified external tank and new five segment solid-rocket boosters (SRB), Christopher Shank, special assistant to NASA administrator Michael Griffin, has revealed to Flight International.

These are the same ones that were in the spaceref and nytimes stories a month or so ago. They were supposed to make some kind of public announcement the week of 8/15/2005 but I never saw it.

Now we'll see if Congress is willing to foot the bill to put these up.