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Science

SoLeftIAmRight

(4,883 posts)

15. The real story is never told...

Reply to LongTomH (Original post)

Sun Jun 7, 2015, 09:47 PM

Jun 2015

The Air force and intelligence services were allowed to dictate many designs conditions so that they could make use of the shuttle. NASA wanted a two stage smaller system that was less expensive and still make use of Apollo type heavy lift engines to get the big stuff up. Doing both jobs with one vehicle was a big mistake.

Sad part... the money from the other agencies never came and they made little use of the force design.

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19 replies

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Highlight:

Mourning the loss of the Space Shuttle "NASA's 40-year embarassment" [View all] LongTomH Jun 2015 OP

Was it a victim of Republican cheapness? JDPriestly Jun 2015 #1

No, it just was a program that didn't make sense. jeff47 Jun 2015 #8

Partially... MicaelS Jun 2015 #16

40 years at the dawn of space travel and with only two massive disasters? Warpy Jun 2015 #2

NASA's budget delrem Jun 2015 #3

given the millions of miles traveled, they were safer than driving a car nt msongs Jun 2015 #4

OH, I LOVED the Shuttle and saw the Endeavour as it flew over Gloria Jun 2015 #5

I had a similar experience at Daytona Beach in college, spring of 1982 Thor_MN Jun 2015 #13

similar experience here too. Duppers Jun 2015 #18

I wasn't obsessed, but I loved "Voyager" AlbertCat Jun 2015 #6

OH, I was in love with VOYAGER as well! Gloria Jun 2015 #7

I remember being jolted out of bed before dawn with the sonic booms when Cleita Jun 2015 #9

I'm mostly embarrassed that we had nothing to replace it with phantom power Jun 2015 #10

Still hasn't been surpassed n2doc Jun 2015 #11

Really depends what you mean Johonny Jun 2015 #12

Launching astronauts on the same vehicle that carried cargo was nuts. hunter Jun 2015 #14

Yeah, that was my feeling from way back. eppur_se_muova Jun 2015 #17

The real story is never told... SoLeftIAmRight Jun 2015 #15

Right caraher Jun 2015 #19