This web content discusses the problems and progress of NASA’s space shuttle program. It begins with a story about the Spruce Goose, a prototype seaplane designed by Howard Hughes that ultimately failed to fly. It then transitions to the space shuttle program and its goals of being a reusable spacecraft for space exploration. However, the author highlights delays, cost overruns, and lack of clear purpose for the shuttle. The article also mentions the challenges of building a shuttle capable of withstanding the extreme conditions of space travel. The main cause of delay is identified as the installation of refractory tiles on the shuttle’s surface.
http://www.iasa-intl.com/folders/shuttle/GoodbyeColumbia.html