re: Fuel
Yes, Steve!
I recommend this book.
If they had decided to remove the Launch Escape Tower, they would have been able to cary 5 more tonnes to the Moon!
Ok, maybe just for the last flight....:)
When the HST was launched and it was discovered it had a flaw and 3 years later, the flaw was repaired with 5 daring spacewalks, that was exciting, great and it produced a huge amount of science ever since!
That was romantic!!
Or Sojourner riding on Mars, that was also romantic!
It indeed helps keeping the fuel in our heart'
Raoul