The story behind the space shuttle is very interesting. Some of the early designs were really cool http://io9.gizmodo.com/early-design-specs-show-the-space-shut

The story behind the space shuttle is very interesting. Some of the early designs were really cool http://io9.gizmodo.com/early-design-specs-show-the-space-shuttle-could-have-be-1528524224 http://io9.gizmodo.com/early-design-specs-show-the-space-shu... The real issue in my view, is not Bob's fault (obviously) but politics. Although this is maybe bit off topic, From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Space_Shuttle_design_process https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Space_Shuttle_design_process "While NASA would likely have chosen liquid boosters had it complete control over the design, the Office of Management and Budget insisted on less expensive solid boosters due to their lower projected development costs" The real issue was that it had to be built large enough to carry military payloads or else congress would not fund it. That really forced a lot of terrible design compromises. I would tell Bob to not feel guilty, the ones that need to feel guilty are the politicians and OMB people who boxed the engineers into a corner. It will be interesting to see if the private sector who is taking a lot of this development over will be safer. Just my 2 cents.