Path: utzoo!attcan!uunet!snorkelwacker!usc!wuarchive!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!rpi!uupsi!pbs!pstinson
From: pstinson@pbs.org
Newsgroups: sci.space.shuttle
Subject: Re: best of all worlds
Message-ID: <10314.2711c063@pbs.org>
Date: 9 Oct 90 16:19:46 GMT
References: <10265.2708917a@pbs.org> <49492@olivea.atc.olivetti.com> <143360@sun.Eng.Sun.COM>
Organization: PBS:Public Broadcasting Service, Alexandria, VA
Lines: 23

In article <143360@sun.Eng.Sun.COM>, jmck@norge.Eng.Sun.COM (John McKernan) writes:
> In article <49492@olivea.atc.olivetti.com> donehoo@olivee.olivetti.com (Doyle W. Donehoo) writes:
>>In article <10265.2708917a@pbs.org> pstinson@pbs.org writes:
>>>We could design the next generation Apollo as a lunar taxi that would fit
>>>inside a Shuttle.
>>
>>What a great idea!
> 
> No, what a dumb idea. The posting you quote envisioned launching an
> Apollo derivative in two pieces on shuttles, followed by fuel on a
> Titan IV, and then rendezvousing the whole mess in Earth orbit.( ETC....)

That's just for the first time.  After the system is up there fewer launches
will be required for subsequent trips.  By the way, the vehicle does not have
to be a strict Apollo derivative.  It can be derived as well from Spacelab
modules or something else, if we prefer.  The only restraint is that it fit
inside the Shuttle.

Now I make a challenge.  Instead of simply writing this off as a "dumb" idea as
some people so readily do in this group, why not see if you can make it better.
Some poeple called the Wright brothers idea "dumb".  That is the easy part. 
Now come up with something better, if you can that will get us to the moon on a
regular basis.