This isn't a patent on the Space Shuttle. It's a patent on an "improved" space shuttle where the External Tank is placed in front of the orbiter. (I didn't read

This isn't a patent on the Space Shuttle. It's a patent on an "improved" space shuttle where the External Tank is placed in front of the orbiter. (I didn't read why, but I assume it's to minimize various losses.) Given the problems with foam shedding on the actual ET, it's probably a good thing they didn't adopt this configuration. I checked, and it's actually somewhat buildable - if my back-of-the-envelope math is right, it's shorter than a Saturn V.