Path: utzoo!attcan!uunet!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!sol.ctr.columbia.edu!cica!iuvax!silver!jkonrath
From: jkonrath@silver.ucs.indiana.edu (jon)
Newsgroups: sci.space
Subject: Re: LLNL Astronaut Delivery (was Re: You Can't Expect a Space Station)
Message-ID: <70202@iuvax.cs.indiana.edu>
Date: 6 Nov 90 17:54:19 GMT
References: <44579@eerie.acsu.Buffalo.EDU> <9011061721.AA24422@iti.org>
Sender: news@iuvax.cs.indiana.edu
Organization: Indiana University, Bloomington IN.
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In article <9011061721.AA24422@iti.org> aws@ITI.ORG ("Allen W. Sherzer") writes:
>In article <44579@eerie.acsu.Buffalo.EDU>:
>>>>How *is* LLNL planning to get astronauts up to the station?  
>>>+Put a capsule on a Delta.
>
>>Is LNLL sure the Delta can be made man-rated? Cheaply? 
>
>LLNL has no intention of man-rating whatever launchers they use. Since
>the operational record of Titan and Delta is better than the Shuttle's
>operational record and about equal to outside estimates of Shuttle
>reliability there seems little point. Man rating adds cost but doesn't
>add reliability.
>
>>Just throwing a
>>capsule on top of a Delta doesn't sound particularly safe. I know
>>Delta has a great launch record, but I doubt it was ever designed
>>for manned-flight.
>
>If the vibration load on the crew isn't too bad, why not?

its not just vibration load (which is probably too bad) its also the
acceleratation.  Most of the payload rockets made have way too high
acceleration rates for humans....even with gsuits/seats/etc..

sure, a chunk of metal and silicon can take it, but not a human....
one of the reasons most manned flights are liquid powered or use
way more advanced solid boosters....

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