NASA has decided to stop the X-33 project.  They are hoping the decision will free up money for other projects to develop a new spacecraft to replace the space shuttles.  NASA has already spent 4 years and $1.25 billion on the project.  In 1999, a problem with the X-33 fuel tank endangered the project.  A $4.5 billion program begun last year is trying to design a new launch vehicle to bring astronauts and cargo into space.  NASA isn't too worried, though.  The four space shuttles, most of them built in the 1980's, were made to fly about 100 missions each.  They are only about a quarter of the way through their useful life.

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