The Space Shuttle was supposed to usher in an era of inexpensive, airliner-like space flight because of reusability. Schoolkids in the 1970s read about shuttles flying every week and catering to teams of civilian scientists and researchers.

Instead the shuttle transmogrified into an overengineered, over-budget and expensive flying bomb. Disposable space capsules and rockets of the Mercury to Apollo era were far cheaper, safer and simpler. The budgetary goals expressed for the shuttle could have been met with 1960s space technology - although it would not have had the "cool" factor.

The shuttle is a key example of mediocrity and groupthink by engineers working really hard to burn a budget. In my mind it is a testament to the nascent power of really brilliant people to argue for and build exactly the wrong thing.

So I'll believe THIS when I see it.