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Soviet rockets were more reliable because they did not throw away the good designs, after they were tested. I guess space exploration could be completely diffe
by qwerta 13y ago
Soviet rockets were more reliable because they did not throw away the good designs, after they were tested.
I guess space exploration could be completely different, if Space Shuttle would launch and land without humans. Apollo could be used as 'lift' to Shuttle on orbit. Shuttle is excellent truck, but man-rating it for atmospheric flight was huge waste.
- justin66 13y agoThe problems inherent to the STS design - which make it so expensive to operate, among other things - would maintain even if it weren't man rated. You'd still have to rebuild the skin of the vehicle and the solid rocket boosters every time you used it. If you messed that up with an unmanned version you'd still risk blowing up your very, very expensive toy every time. We could launch Apollo capsules and big cargo containers with Saturn rockets, before STS.