Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!uunet!mcsun!ukc!icdoc!syma!andy
From: andy@syma.sussex.ac.uk (Andy Clews)
Newsgroups: sci.space.shuttle
Subject: Hypothetical Payload Bay Door problems
Message-ID: <3731@syma.sussex.ac.uk>
Date: 2 Nov 90 11:35:32 GMT
Organization: University of Sussex
Lines: 24

Three hypothetical scenarios (and I hope they remain so):

Suppose, for some reason, the payload bay doors fail to close under their
own mechanism whilst the orbiter is in orbit.  Does a mechanism exist for
members of the crew to attempt to close the doors manually?

Suppose also, that the doors close but cannot be locked for some reason (as
I assume they are in the normal course of events).  Would this be a fatal
mishap, i.e.  would it prevent the orbiter from attempting a re-entry and
landing?

On a related note, suppose the payload bay doors cannot be _opened_ once the
vehicle is in orbit.  Would this pose serious problems, given that the
door-mounted radiators would be unable to vent excess heat into space?

A lighter note.  I have just completed a 1/72 scale model of Columbia (the
Revell one).  The payload bay doors do not close properly.  I have
instigated an inquiry into why this is so, how it can be corrected and how
to prevent it happening again.  My Mum and my Uncle Norman are on the board
of enquiry.  ;-)

-- 
Andy Clews, Computing Service, Univ. of Sussex, Brighton BN1 9QN, England
JANET: andy@syma.sussex.ac.uk   BITNET: andy%syma.sussex.ac.uk@uk.ac