Methane Is Back?

So, it looks like NASA is becoming interested in Methane propulsion. But ATK and XCOR? Working on the same project? That's just plain weird. Very good, for NASA, for XCOR, and for the alt.space world in general. But still really weird. Does this mean I have to take a hiatus from bad mouthing ATK for a while?

7500lbf is going to be one rip-roarin-roudy little engine indeed. And I'm actually impressed that XCOR is getting about a third of the full contract. Between that, and the composite LOX tank work from last year, and the Rocket Racing League work, this is going to be a really profitable year for XCOR. At this rate it's not going to be long before they can build Xerus. Jeff was already mentioning how they were looking at using LOX/Methane for their microsat upper stage for the Xerus, and how the added performance was looking like it would greatly increase their potential LEO payload. I wonder if they've considered switching to LOX/Methane for the Xerus main propulsion as well?

Strange things are indeed afoot at the Circle K.