

Space shuttle Atlantis blasted off at 11:29 a.m.










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By geddarkstorm on 7/8/2011 4:08:08 PM , Rating: 2
You are absolutely right, they did over generalize it. Basically, they put a whole rocket fleet into one design, which as you point out means it doesn't do anything especially well. But it does make it remarkably flexible; something useful for scientific missions that were its main focus. It's just, was this flexibility what we really need, especially going forward?

It shouldn't be hard to take the shuttle, modernize it, lighten it, make it more cost effective, as well as make specific derivatives: some for cargo, some for crew. But maybe rocket designs will do it better. It doesn't mean the shuttle was a bad design though. It is peculiar, and it's also beautiful, and we have learned so much from it we never would have been able to otherwise; and accomplished great things (like with the shuttles manipulation arm).

The shuttle is not the end all be all, and it is very expensive for its size. But, that's no reason to retire it, not now when the ISS is sitting in lurch and there is no replacement on our launch pads!

