[Secret Agent Man]

The shuttle is awesome in the sense in that it’s reusable and was updateable over 40 years. They still could have been flying now if they wanted.

IN terms of power and such, i am with you on the saturn v. how the engine thruster funnels didn’t melt from all that power is beyond me.

[rktman]

Yup. Worked on the system for 36 years. Twelve years in New Orleans and 24 at KSC. Sadly the orbiters were only used about 30% of their design life. Escalating costs, continuing issues, aging ground systems led to it’s demise with nothing in the wings (so to speak) to take their place. When the Saturn program was winding down at least the shuttle was on the drawing board. Thanks to all the taxpayers who funded it. Standing outside the VAB for a launch was AWESOME!!!!!. Double sonic booms when they came home was AWESOME!!!! Yeah, I miss it. If we were still flying today, I’d still be there. Remarkable things were done that some will never realize. (The Saturn nozzles were cooled by running cryos around the outside of the nozzles)

[lbryce]

Never thought of it but indeed you have to be awestruck about the sort of metallurgical alchemy that went into creating the wondrous, magnificent beast that was the Saturn V, poignant icon of America in its halcyon days of greatness.