>>1301946The reason the shuttle was chosen was because it offered cheaper launches to LEO and had capabilities of returning satellites to earth’s surface. However, because it was “designed by committee”, it ended up being less safe, more expensive, and not as capable compared to other concepts devised at the time. To top it off, after Challenger, they were no longer capable of quick turnaround times for other missions, and the cost increased dramatically. They were far less reusable than previously expected, requiring a near complete tear down after each mission.
