Was there a Von Braun type engineer behind the design and development of the Space Shuttle vehicle?
Urban legend. Von Braun did not invent or designed the Saturn vehicles. he was just a team leader of the group that did and was a charismatic speaker.However the designer of the Mercury capsule, Max Faget did produce some shuttle designs and had patents on them. But the current shuttle was a industry designed vehicle.Some say Faget was closer to a Korolyov type leader than von Braun.
The smart alek in me says the space shuttle was designed by the Office of Management and Budget and its predecessor the Bureau of the Budget.
Does anyone remember the designer of X-30 or VentureStar?
Does anyone remember the designer of X-30 or VentureStar?Exactly. People don't remember the names of ones that don't get built.
NASA is going to have an Ares I. There's no precedent for a NASA human space project like Ares I/Orion being canceled this far (three years) into the effort. - Ed Kyle
X-33 is a perfect example. Orion is not tied to Ares I.
Regarding precedent: tell that to the folks at Stennis and MAF who used to say "Well, it survived Camille" before Katrina came through.Or to the folks who said liberated ET foam was never a problem before STS-107. I'd go further, but we're OT and retreading.
Quote from: Antares on 06/02/2008 10:38 pmDoes anyone remember the designer of X-30 or VentureStar?Exactly. People don't remember the names of ones that don't get built.NASA is going to have an Ares I. There's no precedent for a NASA human space project like Ares I/Orion being canceled this far (three years) into the effort. - Ed Kyle