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From: ccoprmd@prism.gatech.EDU (Matthew DeLuca)
Newsgroups: sci.space.shuttle
Subject: Re: Skeptical Shuttle Enquirer
Message-ID: <26198@hydra.gatech.EDU>
Date: 13 Apr 91 02:55:56 GMT
References: <910@idacrd.UUCP> <25875@hydra.gatech.EDU> <1991Apr12.223929.6286@bellcore.bellcore.com>
Organization: The Dorsai Grey Captains
Lines: 28

In article <1991Apr12.223929.6286@bellcore.bellcore.com> karn@thumper.bellcore.com writes:
>In article <25875@hydra.gatech.EDU>, ccoprmd@prism.gatech.EDU (Matthew DeLuca) writes:
>> [T]here's no substitute for manned presence in space.  Staging a stunt that 
>> runs the risk of damaging a very important observatory, as well as exposing
>> astronauts to unnecessary hazards, seems to be a little too much for a 
>> NASA stunt.

>The missions "rescued" by the presence of men in space must be traded
>off against the *substantial* additional cost. [...]

>And don't forget to take into account the costs (direct and indirect)
>associated with designing a payload exclusively for the shuttle [...]

Well, there's a difference between 'man in space' and 'launching your 
payloads from the space shuttle'.  Personally, I'd like to see the 
vast majority of the satellite launches go up on expendable boosters, as 
well as interplanetary probes, and just send people up to fix them if
something goes wrong.  To this end, I'd like to see a small three-seater
spaceplane with a small 'work area' cargo bay and manipulator arm that 
could be launched on something like a Titan.  Something not too much more
complex than an old capsule, so that we could send it up relatively 
quickly and easily when the need arises.  

-- 
Matthew DeLuca                   
Georgia Institute of Technology      "I'd hire the Dorsai, if I knew their
Office of Information Technology      P.O. box."  - Zebadiah Carter,
Internet: ccoprmd@prism.gatech.edu    _The Number of the Beast_