spaceplane (shuttle) vs return capsule

[NASAFanboy]

I use a capsule.

I'm OK at planes, but I simply can't care enough to guide my plane for twenty minutes in a row.

I highly prefer rockets. Faster. Cheaper (Have you seen my rocket SSTO's?), and better than the best of my airplane designs by a long shot.

[Othuyeg]

I often have to use capsules for the very sad reason of being forced to reduce the part count.

[TimePeriod]

Capsules because part count at +400 for me lags so darn much.

[CatastrophicFailure]

Spaceplanes are too bloody slow. In the time it takes to nudge a single spaceplane into orbit, drop a payload, and nudge it back down, I could launch a small multi module station with rockets, even more so if I don't care about recovering the LV (and it's more fun to watch it burn up of the way back down).

that plan worked pretty durn well for the Russians after all. They launched HOW many space stations with simple, reliable, proven technology while we were still mired with an expensive, inefficient, and dangerous space plane?

[Pecan]

As the last few posts have said: spaceplanes can be fun but are just too time-consuming to fly much. Mine are just for LKO crew transfers and all landings - whether plane or rocket - are powered, with ejection/parachute for emergency. A capsule deorbiting doesn't need much fuel or thrust to allow for a good choice of landing site.

[ArmchairGravy]

I like capsules for their ease of operation. It's going to come down quickly and land in one piece. Spaceplanes are trickier and take more time. However, the feeling of accomplishment is higher with spaceplanes. I had a great time building the flying science lab that brought my results from Jool down to the surface from the orbiter.

[Voculus]

Rockets are definitely more forgiving, but nothing beats the satisfaction of a spaceplane that can deliver even a small payload into orbit.

[MKI]

Oh the day when Building an Asymetric Space Shuttle is easier than an SSTO!

I have gone through around 30+ different designs trying to make an extremely efficient Shuttle System. To bad i don't have the impatiences or determination to fix my older ones that are really tough to fly lol. I guess i have set my bar to high with my efficient SSTO's.

[magnemoe]

I prefer vertical landing, often powered and combined with parachutes to reduce landing speed and improved balance during landing.

[Pecan]

Oh the day when Building an Asymetric Space Shuttle is easier than an SSTO!

I have gone through around 30+ different designs trying to make an extremely efficient Shuttle System. To bad i don't have the impatiences or determination to fix my older ones that are really tough to fly lol. I guess i have set my bar to high with my efficient SSTO's.

Yes, now that SSTOs can be even more powerful and lift considerable mass in each launch there's even less point in building spaceplanes - just stick with SSTOs.

[Javster]

My personal preference is spaceplanes, mainly because they are simply more fun to land, and I don't often find myself walking away from the game.

[plausse]

One of my crew carriers launches on top of a rocket, but its got control surfaces, tiny wings, and a lot of body lift. That gives me pretty decent cross range capability during reentry (easy to hit the water a few meters of the island beach). I then land it with parachutes and airbags. Best of two worlds...

[Spartwo]

Even when it's an interplanetary ship I still glide in.

[TimePeriod]

I managed to build my first working SSTO yesterday, I needed it to return the science from any mission I had thought out. (RP-reason, no logic needed)