Andi Kleen wrote:

"Optimizing for" usually implies a single goal as target. If you try
to do many different things at once you end up with a inefficient
design. Good example is the shuttle.

Still, it's hard to figure out what exactly else it can do besides the
little "hop up into space" type flight.




In fact, the design is inferior in performance to the X-15 of over 40
years ago.



Just done in a small fraction of the cost of the X15 and able
to carry more people.


....but it exists for the sake of ego as much as anything else; let's see
it try to go Mach 6 in the atmosphere sometime....

Pat