Newsgroups: sci.space.shuttle
Path: utzoo!henry
From: henry@zoo.toronto.edu (Henry Spencer)
Subject: Re: Hypothetical Payload Bay Door problems
Message-ID: <1990Nov3.031615.29332@zoo.toronto.edu>
Organization: U of Toronto Zoology
References: <3731@syma.sussex.ac.uk>
Date: Sat, 3 Nov 90 03:16:15 GMT

In article <3731@syma.sussex.ac.uk> andy@syma.sussex.ac.uk (Andy Clews) writes:
>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?

Yes, although I believe it requires an EVA.

>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?

One would want to have them reasonably secure.  It's hard to see what sort
of failure would make all the latches fail, especially since I *think* there
is a manual latching procedure.  A few malfunctioning latches should not be
harmful.

>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?

It would mean a mission abort and a prompt reentry.  There is enough time
before serious problems occur to permit this.
-- 
"I don't *want* to be normal!"         | Henry Spencer at U of Toronto Zoology
"Not to worry."                        |  henry@zoo.toronto.edu   utzoo!henry