What are the advantages/disadvantages of the shuttle?

Answer 1

Advantages are: room for a large crew, its ability to bring large objects back from space in the cargo bay, its low G flight profile (3 Gees or less) which can bring back delicate payloads undamaged, its ability to land on a runway at an exact location and it is reusable.

Disadvantages are high maintenance requirement, high cost, and lack of any launch escape system for the crew.