Why are shuttles hard for people?

[SkyHook]

Except, as someone pointed out, this isn't a proper shuttle. If you look REALLY carefully, you will notice that the real shuttles don't have an engine under the big orange fuel tank. With that engine it is easy to balance, but it also loses its point.

Also, that's not how you re-enter with a shuttle. The real shuttles enter the atmosphere at a 40 degree angle.

What you built is not a shuttle, it's an asymmetrical rocket with wings.

Well I agree that what he built is not a shuttle, but for a different reason: his shuttle...doesn't shuttle anything. There is no cargo bay and thus it cannot take anything to to orbit (or back from orbit).Taking one crew to orbit and back in such a Rube Goldberg way can hardly qualify as being a shuttle.The fact that his lift system is not strictly asymmetrical is completely irrelevant in defining whether or not his craft can be classified as a shuttle. It's important to remember that NASA's iteration of a shuttle is NOT the only way to tackle the problem.

[TimePeriod]

Problem with shuttles (in relation to the funding and costs) is that when you launch that shuttle, how will KSP register the amount of money it costs? Will it refund the amount of cash invested after recovery or will you just pay for the single build? What if it was cheaper to build a rocket specific for that job with only the required amount of delta-v needed, instead of having to carry all the extra parts and fuel? I can better understand an SSTO if we use it for moving kerbals to and from orbit but for other then minor payloads they don't exactly qualify as "heavy lifters" (I MADE THIS 600 PART SSTO THAT CAN LIFT 6 TONS TO LKO! ~ That's not an SSTO, its dead weight strapped to a rocket.

In the end when I think about it it is more likely we will use rockets purposes built for a mission or job rather then invest in shuttles.

[antiquark]

Define shuttle.

See picture:

[Cakeofruit]

When we say shuttle i think many refer to the orbiter whith the NASA style launcher, a huge fuel tank and two booster on the side like the photo of antiquark.

And that kind of shuttle require a lot of test flight!

[SpaceSphereOfDeath]

When we say shuttle i think many refer to the orbiter whith the NASA style launcher, a huge fuel tank and two booster on the side like the photo of antiquark.

And that kind of shuttle required a lot of test flight!

My shuttle didn't need more than 5 test flights to get it working, it was the lift:weight ratio that was my problem. It was also more complex than the shuttle, using external oxidiser tanks and 2 small sepatrons drvoen boosters along side the 2 main ones, there's a video below If you want to see the launch.

[Torham234]

Problem with shuttles (in relation to the funding and costs) is that when you launch that shuttle, how will KSP register the amount of money it costs? Will it refund the amount of cash invested after recovery or will you just pay for the single build? What if it was cheaper to build a rocket specific for that job with only the required amount of delta-v needed, instead of having to carry all the extra parts and fuel?

Mission control mod has solved most of those issues efficiently. You pay when you launch a vehicle, and when you are able to recover any/all stages, you are refunded for the recovered parts. Minus the fuel of course and not the full costs, since there is maintenance/repairs and cleaning that needs to be done on the recovered parts. Yes, you may end up spending more than if you just used a small purpose build lifter, but you will see savings if you keep reusing your vehicle over many missions (if you don't crash )

In the end when I think about it it is more likely we will use rockets purposes built for a mission or job rather then invest in shuttles.

Like I said, it boils down to your play style. Some people are quite happy even if they never build a working plane. I on the other hand have spend more time in SPAH than in the VAB. I just like planes. Did I mention I like planes? I like those.....

[Cakeofruit]

My shuttle didn't need more than 5 test flights to get it working, it was the lift:weight ratio that was my problem.

U have a engine under your fuel tank , That is easyer to built and balance. Shuttle are fun to built but not efficient at all because it burn more fuel than a ssto and you have less cross range ( no jet engine). But the are Way faster to go to orbit than the ssto.

[Javster]

I just make a plane, strap it on top of a huge KW booster, and it's done!