On 7/03/2016 9:55 AM, wrote:
"If you're any manner of space enthusiast, then you've no doubt encountered
conspiracy-theory types who insist that the Moon landings were directed by
Stanley Kubrick or that the Nazis had a swastika-shaped base on Mars. But it
turns out those folks are trying way too hard, because the actual history of
space exploration is rife with shady **** that would feel right at home on blogs
full of animated GIFs warning about the Illuminati."

See:

http://www.cracked.com/article_23530...-are-true.html


It's certainly true that USAF requirements compromised the design of the
shuttle. In particular the requirement that it be able to fly a mission
consisting of a single orbit and land back at its launch site. Without
that they could have used a vehicle that descended from orbit more
quickly, which in turn would have allowed a stronger thermal protection
(since it needn't be so effective).

Sylvia.