Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!swrinde!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!ncar!gatech!mcnc!uvaarpa!murdoch!COLE@SAMSON.PHYS.VIRGINIA.EDU
From: cole@SAMSON.phys.virginia.edu
Newsgroups: sci.space.shuttle
Subject: Re: Atlantis and the DoD
Message-ID: <0093FABA.72DFD840@SAMSON.PHYS.VIRGINIA.EDU>
Date: 14 Nov 90 02:53:47 GMT
References: <16716@hydra.gatech.EDU>,<1990Nov13.040534.10476@zoo.toronto.edu>
Sender: news@murdoch.acc.Virginia.EDU
Reply-To: cole@SAMSON.phys.virginia.edu
Organization: Dept. of Physics, University of Virginia
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In article <1990Nov13.040534.10476@zoo.toronto.edu>, henry@zoo.toronto.edu
 (Henry Spencer) writes:
>In article <16716@hydra.gatech.EDU> ccoprmd@prism.gatech.EDU 
(Matthew DeLuca) writes:
>>     A quick question...why is it that the vast majority (all but one, 
>>if my memory serves) of Department of Defense shuttle missions are aboard
>>Atlantis? ...
>
>...I think the use of Atlantis
>rather than Discovery really is coincidence.  There was once talk of "blue
>shuttles", with some of the orbiters dedicated to military missions, but
>that never materialized.

It is my understanding that only the Atlantis permits encrypted air-to-ground
communications (as well as telmetry) to prevent the Soviets (and nosy
American ham radio operators) from listening in.  Occasionally, however,
unscrambled conversation has been picked up on VHF by amateurs during 
DoD missions.

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Cole Smith (lcs1h@virginia)           
Physics Dept. University of Virginia  Charlottesville
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