"The project was known as the Small Unit Space Transport and Insertion program (Sustain). Its advocates said it took too long on foot to reach the caves where bin Laden was said to be hiding, and helicopters were too visible.

General James Mattis, leading the marines' central command at the time, said he wanted the space-plane in the air by 2019."

Well I guess that puts paid to any idea of the US leaving Afghanistan any time this decade.

LTS