Tyler,

Before reading this I just wanna say thanks to Tyler. This is great content. I’d never even heard of this and while I’m no super-duper expert on these things, but it’s a snowy day in hell when I hear about something of this magnitude that was done so long ago. I’ve never even came across this (or if I did, i forgot,…

This would have been a massive flop.

Agreed, but that is a lot of stuff to hope for.

Not true. It would have been built differently, or launched on different vehicle(s). Proton, which was used to launch a couple of ISS modules, can lift 49,000lbs to ISS, Space Shuttle 35,000lbs

By any objective measure, the STS program was a failure. Any of its many accomplishments could have been met more economically and more safely using conventional launch platforms.

The Challenger failure was due to venting through the o-rings of the solid rocket boosters. The Columbia failure was due to damage received to the orbiter on takeoff from the foam insulation flying off of the external tank.

No it was not. Anything but. It is not like I am making this up. Look at the original requirements and look at what it delivered. It also choked NASA’s budget where man has been locked in LEO for many decades and still are.

Expect the same with the SLS. The first flight may or may not be all white, but after that mass is more important than aesthetics.

Definitely looks like something Captain America would ride if he were hitting the dirt!

You can take the Chase Utley out of Philadelphia, but you can’t take the Philadelphia out of Chase Utley. Seriously, fuck this guy.

female and international pilots, which is a big issue.

Yeah, he’s one of the few people on the Gawker network that I would call an actual journalist.

YOU WIN.

Indeed! Although, I suspect I would need to grab a coffee and find a comfy chair even for that! :)

Have you read anything written by Tyler? He's one of the most thorough and respected authors on Gawker.

OK, that is a genuinely awesome story.

Can someone please post gifs for the reaction of Mini owners to this? When a Fiat is preferred over you for reliability...

I did a Cummins swap into my ‘75 W200 crewcab. It fit perfectly and I used the wiring harness and dash from the donor ‘93.

He’s gotta make his way to the Dirty O. Best hot dogs (and ambiance!) in the city.