Hell yes I can compare them. And what not! Because one's acheivement is greather than the other???? Would I not compare DeGama to Magellan? Please!
As far as achievement goes, it is like comparing the Wright Bros to a DC-3.... a separation of about 30 years (and frankly the Shuttle doesn't compare to the DC-3 it is much less capable than that venerable bird.)
However the shuttle has been around for about that long - WITH VIRTUALLY NO DESIGN IMPROVEMENTS.
I ask you, in the vernacular: "WTF?" Seriously.
Yes Discovery incorporated some weight savings over the older orbiters. OV-105 was basically built from spare parts from the pre Enterprise orbiter that was never named - IIRC OV-98 - when Challenger was lost. {History: weirdly Challenger was OV-99 and Columbia OV-101. So Endeavor is partly older than Columbia was!} Atlantis has some blankets in place of tiles... but for the most part they are all the same bird.
30 years after the DC-3 we had 707's. 30 years after the shuttle we have... the exact same vehicle.
Helmetcam, you definately have the spirit, and arguing with you is like cutting of my nose to spite my face as we seem to have the same spirit. However the shuttle for the shuttle's sake is ridiculous - we can do better!! Wish them luck - and write your representatives encouraging them to fund a better - and SAFER - vehicle!
Back to Space....
Moderators: SkiDork, spanky, Bubba
I don't think we're arguing. I think NASA was forced to make due with what congress gives them- hence an old outdated platform. Congress wouldn't (and still won't) fund a replacement without a clear vision. The one thing NASA has in spades is vision- it has gone and still wants to go "where no man has gone before". its the transient adminstrations and budget fluctuations that hurt the most. I think our only hope is that companies will find it profitable to go up and fund R&D.
I love the space program too, and i'd give my right nut to slip the surly bonds of earth. We are definitely on the same page.
I love the space program too, and i'd give my right nut to slip the surly bonds of earth. We are definitely on the same page.
aeronautical engineering
I once built a potato cannon for an 8th grade science fair and came in first by analyzing the trajectory through mathematical formulas......... oh never mind I was just trying to impress all of you by giving you an example of my technical knowledge.....but damn I am never going to make into space.