Capsules vs. Winged Craft

[Nemoricus]

With the imminent retirement of the space shuttle, which in my opinion is long overdue and much needed, NASA is currently considering a capsule-based system for its next series of manned spacecraft. This has caused me to wonder about the relative advantages and disadvantages of each type of system.

From what I know:

Capsules:

- Simpler to build and design
- Cheaper
- Limited ability to affect their ultimate landing site
- Volume limited in what they can carry up and down

Winged Craft:

- More complicated
- Cost more
- Greater flexibility in choosing a landing site
- Greater capability in transferring cargo to and from orbit

Of course, this is just based on what I've been able to glean from various sources and doesn't represent any concerted study on my part. I may be wrong on various points and want to hear what other people on the board think about this.

 

[SiberianTiger]

Don't let assuming a capsule is an Apollo/Soyuz like thing and a winged craft should always be similar to the Space Shuttle, to fog your thinking. In reality, there's a greater variety of choices. For example, you can have a tiny winged craft (Dyna-Soar style) able to carry one person. Or a lifting body descent module. Or a capsule that lands on a parafoil or even using a helicopter rotor. Any type can be made reusable or one time use thing. And each one will be fitting it's particular role within a certain set of requirements.

Perhaps, the main problem with the existing manned spacecraft is they aren't used in the way they had been designed for. Soyuz is a product of evolution of a Lunar space ship prototype. The Space Shuttle would be awesome, had the Reagan's Star Wars program gained its full swing (transporting lots of cargo up and down as the sole launcher/retriever). The views on the purposes of manned space have shifted significantly since the times both were created.

Perhaps one thing can be stated nevertheless: the capsule is a child of artillery; the winged craft is a child of aviation. Perhaps, that's why they are often seen as competitive designs.