Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!wuarchive!udel!rochester!rit!cci632!lmm
From: lmm@cci632.UUCP (Lance Michel)
Newsgroups: sci.space.shuttle
Subject: Misc Shuttle questions
Keywords: LDEF Columbia
Message-ID: <32253@cci632.UUCP>
Date: 5 Dec 89 16:34:52 GMT
Organization: CCI, Communications Systems Division, Rochester, NY
Lines: 31



All this talk about launch towers and shuttle mods. has me wondering...

       1.   Couldn't a (removable) additional fuel tank be mounted
            in one of the shuttles.  And say (for sake of discussion) 
            that this tank took up most or all of the payload area.  Then
            could the shuttle reach high orbits, maybe even geosync. orbit?
            Would there be any advantage to such a mod?

       2.   If a sat. is in geosnyc, is it very stable there?  Or does it
            require hydozine adjustments like other lower sats?  Will a 
            geosync ever come down if left unattended?

       3.   What about the LDEF.  When Columbia brings it down it will be
            a record landing weight correct?  Is this an area of special
            concern?  Exactly how much does the LDEF weigh?  Could any of
            the shuttles perform this task, or does it require the "Mack
            Truck" of the fleet?  Does this extra weight effect re-entry? 
            (I would expect that it doesn't)

       4.   This question I just have to ask:  Henry S. (In Toronto), how
            do you know all this stuff? Where do you get these resources?
            And don't say the library because I looked there,  they dont have
            anything even close to explaining how the shuttle is bolted down
            until ignition.  Do you make any public appearances regarding
            space technology,  if so when and where, (I'll be there!)

Please excuse the volume/"scatterness" of questions.  Two of us which read
this group decided it would be better to save up questions, and take turns
posting.