It could be that NASA scewed up. We will know eventually but NASA has been beating the statistical predicted failure of a shuttle for quite a while now. Contrary to someone else's observation on this thread the shuttle is an engineering marvel. It is, however, very complex and expensive. Recent forays into a next generation vehicle has been haltingly maddening to us who have been involved in such endeavors. This will provide the impetus to develop a safer and cheaper manned launch vehicle.
For now our thoughts should be with the friends and family of the crew and all those dedicated workers who have had a hand in this launch and now recovery operations. It is going to be difficult not to respond emotionally in the early days of many months of work that lies ahead.
Of it WAS for it's time AND NASA has done a credible job of updating. BUT we have much better capabilities now, especially in heat dispersion materials, electronics and - as far as I'm concerned - overall design. I never did fancy the idea of a "flying brick".
That said I have to admit with the record NASA has with the STS, I wouldn't be afraid to jump on board.prisoner6
No. The shuttle as originally designed was an engineering marvel. Jimmy Carter cut the budget and they had to build of aluminum instead of titanium and them use ceramic tiles to protect the aluminum from re entry heat. The design, as built is an overweight Kludge. An obsolete one.
SO9