[wongarsu]

I think the space shuttle is a good example of "Space Force" equipment. DoD support played a major role in getting it funded and setting its requirements, and it was able to fulfill a variety of roles from deploying and repairing our own satellites (including complicated deployments of spy satellites that needed a DoD crew member present in orbit) as well as capture of enemy satellites.

[masonic]

  it was able to fulfill a variety of roles from deploying and repairing our own satellites... as well as capture of enemy satellites.

It was a ridiculously expensive and unsafe way to accomplish its missions. The primary contract award to Rockwell was based on a pack of lies with respect to costs.

One direct result is the Challenger disaste. The losing bid would have had the boosters built in one piece and transported on barges. Instead, Thiokol had to make them in pieces small enough to transport by rail.

Cost per flight ended up being, what, two orders of magnitude more than what the basis for the bid award?

[jshevek]

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