For a brilliant rant on the horrible, useless design of the Space Shuttle, it's hard to beat Idle Words: http://www.idlewords.com/2005/08/a_rocket_to_nowhere.htm
And of course, there was John Glenn, monitored inside and
out, blood tested, urine sampled, entire organism analyzed
for signs of accelerated aging. Close observation of the
Senator suggested that there might not be any medical
obstacles to launching the entire legislative branch into
space, possibly the most encouraging scientific result of
the mission.As tempting as it is to picture a blood-spattered Canadarm flinging goat carcasses into the void,...
> The Soviet Shuttle, the Buran (snowstorm) was an aerodynamic clone of the American orbiter, but incorporated many original features that had been considered and rejected for the American program, such as all-liquid rocket boosters, jet engines, ejection seats and an unmanned flight capability. You know you're in trouble when the Russians are adding safety features to your design.