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Go look at articles about how the Shuttle had to be changed to suit defense mission parameters -- defense missions seem like they do a lot of things that aren't

Go look at articles about how the Shuttle had to be changed to suit defense mission parameters -- defense missions seem like they do a lot of things that aren't just "put XXXkg of payload in orbit YYYkm up", and a vehicle designed to pop off an assembly line and just do that probably won't fit the mission. Also, I'd argue that yes, the people who feel a need to inject Elon/SpaceX/Tesla/etc. into even the most tangentially-related threads are indeed fanboys, and are doing it out of fanboyism.

lifeisstillgood 12y ago
Well, there is a difference between fanboy and layperson - if you take 20 random people and ask them to name people who build (not fly) space ships I would be impressed if you get more than VonBraun and Musk. Maybe Branson :-). It is oddly an industry without many big names. This is in no way diminishing the big achievements. Anyway - my first few googles lead me to the livingmoon where a seemingly well sourced article on shuttle military missions is on the same site as proof Santa Claus exists. So from wikipedia / NASA.gov there are some reliable figures but we stand at 11 classified missions, 25 public and this seems to be still the most useful overview http://www.airspacemag.com/space/secret-space-shuttles-35318554/ http://www.airspacemag.com/space/secret-space-shuttles-35318... In short the NRO / DOD made the shuttle design cope with larger payloads, different orbits, but still the same essential missions - put spy satellites up, preferably in a way thay cannot easily be tracked. My issue is that it does still seem to be launching satellites - in unusual orbits, yes, in secret and possibly in some other clever way - but the shuttle is just a clever satellite delivery system - it does not seem to be being used itself as a defence system. That might not be the point I grant you, but do please point me in the right directions.
- lifeisstillgood 12y ago
  aha - should have read your comment more closely - Whatever they are doing it's not likely any civilian project will want the space shuttle to stay up there for a year. Ok - now I am intrigued as to what they are doing.

lifeisstillgood 12y ago

Well, there is a difference between fanboy and layperson - if you take 20 random people and ask them to name people who build (not fly) space ships I would be impressed if you get more than VonBraun and Musk. Maybe Branson :-). It is oddly an industry without many big names. This is in no way diminishing the big achievements. Anyway - my first few googles lead me to the livingmoon where a seemingly well sourced article on shuttle military missions is on the same site as proof Santa Claus exists. So from wikipedia / NASA.gov there are some reliable figures but we stand at 11 classified missions, 25 public and this seems to be still the most useful overview http://www.airspacemag.com/space/secret-space-shuttles-35318554/ http://www.airspacemag.com/space/secret-space-shuttles-35318... In short the NRO / DOD made the shuttle design cope with larger payloads, different orbits, but still the same essential missions - put spy satellites up, preferably in a way thay cannot easily be tracked. My issue is that it does still seem to be launching satellites - in unusual orbits, yes, in secret and possibly in some other clever way - but the shuttle is just a clever satellite delivery system - it does not seem to be being used itself as a defence system. That might not be the point I grant you, but do please point me in the right directions.

lifeisstillgood 12y ago
aha - should have read your comment more closely - Whatever they are doing it's not likely any civilian project will want the space shuttle to stay up there for a year. Ok - now I am intrigued as to what they are doing.