[XBob]

he's right, it was not the design of choice, and is full of flaws. It was designed to be 'cheap', and put off 'construction' costs into 'operations' costs, and to re-use the existing Apollo ground installation/equipment.

However, that being said, poor design was not the cause of the Colombia murders. It was a deliberate management failure to do it's job and fix obvious problems, the same reason for the loss of the Challenger.

You don't repeatedly ignore the 'check engine oil' light, then be surprised when the engine blows up.

[bonesmccoy]

Homer Hickam has great ideas!

His analysis is correct.

The STS design was more of a product of Nixon Administration politics than "aerodynamic truths".

One can hope that we can correct Nixon's remaining legacy and get us back to the moon with strength.

But, alas, here is the rub.

The Big Dumb Booster crowd will show up.

The small glider crowd will argue.

Meanwhile, Rutan is still building.

Go Rutan!