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Simulation of Space Shuttle – STS 62 A Polar Express high altitude journey

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Re: Simulation of Space Shuttle – STS 62 A Polar Express high altitude journey

#21

Sidenote: IMO these STS space suits were far better looking than the oompa loompa version that SpaceX has devised. In the name of minimalism, they've created something that looks like a bad hollywood low-budget scifi film (including the purely decorative bridge to the space capsule and the touch screen cockpit). It's personal opinion/taste but I can't help but look at how beautiful and professional it was back in the…

I respect your opinion, but I disagree... I think the SpaceX and Tesla aesthetic is very stylish.

Do you think a Tesla Model X isn't a stylish vehicle?

Re: Simulation of Space Shuttle – STS 62 A Polar Express high altitude journey

#22

I still can't comprehend how the scientists and engineers managed to launch STS 1 (test flight) with two astronauts in 1981 - without doing a prior test launch with no astronauts inside (like SpaceX).. Absolutely incredible. I don't know what it is about the Shuttle, but the aesthetics are just really nice. The safety, of course, is a different question, but it still has a special place in my heart.

The test pilots were pushing for no unmanned flights, and famously insisted that the Shuttle's landing gear control be a fully manual control that could not be activated remotely. This ensured the continuing relevance of the astronaut corps, since unmanned Shuttle flights weren't possible. An unmanned flight such as the one Buran later did was what the engineers wanted, but wasn't possible for what boiled down to office politics reasons.

Re: Simulation of Space Shuttle – STS 62 A Polar Express high altitude journey

#23

Reminded me of this.. https://youtu.be/_q2i0eu35aY " The Space Shuttle was a vehicle designed to do many things, and in a deal with the US Military it was redesigned to make it able to perform a very specific secret mission. The redesign radically changed the Shuttle from the early concepts to the actual design which we saw fly, but, before the shuttle even flew the secret mission had been abandoned. "

That, and the (dramatized, but fundamentally true) "Evolution of the Bradley" sequence from Pentagon Wars.

Re: Simulation of Space Shuttle – STS 62 A Polar Express high altitude journey

#24

Reminded me of this.. https://youtu.be/_q2i0eu35aY " The Space Shuttle was a vehicle designed to do many things, and in a deal with the US Military it was redesigned to make it able to perform a very specific secret mission. The redesign radically changed the Shuttle from the early concepts to the actual design which we saw fly, but, before the shuttle even flew the secret mission had been abandoned. "

It wasn’t a “deal” with the US military, NASA crammed it down their throat. The redesign only became necessary when NASA got congress to cancel the Air Force launch program to force their payloads on the Shuttle.

Re: Simulation of Space Shuttle – STS 62 A Polar Express high altitude journey

#25

Sidenote: IMO these STS space suits were far better looking than the oompa loompa version that SpaceX has devised. In the name of minimalism, they've created something that looks like a bad hollywood low-budget scifi film (including the purely decorative bridge to the space capsule and the touch screen cockpit). It's personal opinion/taste but I can't help but look at how beautiful and professional it was back in the…

SpaceX didnt want that touchscreen
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