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For a brilliant rant on the horrible, useless design of the Space Shuttle, it's hard to beat Idle Words: http://www.idlewords.com/2005/08/a_rocket_to_nowhere.h
by JDulin 9y ago
For a brilliant rant on the horrible, useless design of the Space Shuttle, it's hard to beat Idle Words: http://www.idlewords.com/2005/08/a_rocket_to_nowhere.htm http://www.idlewords.com/2005/08/a_rocket_to_nowhere.htm
- mstade 9y agoThis made me laugh: And of course, there was John Glenn, monitored inside and out, blood tested, urine sampled, entire organism analyzed for signs of accelerated aging. Close observation of the Senator suggested that there might not be any medical obstacles to launching the entire legislative branch into space, possibly the most encouraging scientific result of the mission.
- 24gttghh 9y agoYet you skipped this one? As tempting as it is to picture a blood-spattered Canadarm flinging goat carcasses into the void,...
- mstade 9y agoHa ha I wouldn't say skipped so much as cherry picked. There are plenty more golden nuggets in that article, the one I quoted just happened to be the one that had me laughing out loud.
- sqeaky 9y agoThere is so much to like about that essay, even the citations are good. Here is my favorite: > The Soviet Shuttle, the Buran (snowstorm) was an aerodynamic clone of the American orbiter, but incorporated many original features that had been considered and rejected for the American program, such as all-liquid rocket boosters, jet engines, ejection seats and an unmanned flight capability. You know you're in trouble when the Russians are adding safety features to your design.