[_Jim]

That being said, from my amateurish take on the situation, couldn't this vehicle have been designed better?

Sure ... break out the Lego or Tinker Toy set and have a crack at it ...

Most people have difficulty changing their car's oil or installing a relatively simple CD player (and FORGET upgrading their PC!) -

- yet, they think the space shuttle can be radically redesigned in favor of safety with no performance or payload carrying penalty!

THAT amazes me ...

[Will_Zurmacht]

I am not saying that I could do it...I thought that I made it pretty clear from my self deprecating remarks that I have the utmost respect for the true engineers and was just curious about the design.

Your flippant response amazes me.

I pray that you are not an engineer or scientist. If you are, God help us all........