[mikester]

I'm not pleased with this turn of events but I am trying to remain hopeful that the private sector will pick up the slack.

The problem is that with NASA there was a cooperative government agreement to take those military aviators and turn them into astronauts. Will there be such a program for military aviators who are by definition the best of the best to move to the private sector? Or will the private sector have to find their own experienced but not 'old' (no offense meant there) pilots? I mean retired military pilots might not be the ideal candidates but mid-career pilots in the military might not be willing to leave when they are far along in their career; have significant opportunities within the military outside of space exploration and forgo the retirement benefits they are currently earning.

Going to to the private sector when you're close to 20 in the military with a Commander/Captain/Major/Lt. Colonel or full bird rank is pretty sketchy to say the least.

Granted - there will be those who will say 'hell yeah!' and walk away but I am not so sure we will have as many as we want to do this.

That NASA/Military cooperation was a very valuable program.