Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!uunet!telebit!brent From: brent@telebit.com (Brent Chapman) Newsgroups: sci.space.shuttle Subject: Re: In-Flight Refueling Message-ID: <1991Apr23.052915.10087@telebit.com> Date: 23 Apr 91 05:29:15 GMT References: Sender: news@telebit.com Organization: Telebit Corporation; Sunnyvale, CA, USA Lines: 28 Nntp-Posting-Host: napa.telebit.com shafer@skipper.dfrf.nasa.gov (Mary Shafer) writes: # In article oneel@heawk1.rosserv.gsfc.nasa.gov ( Bruce Oneel ) writes: # [In reference to in-flight refueling of the SCA] # While in-flight refueling could be tricky, how 'bout a modification to # hold more fuel? I remember (long time ago) reading that the shuttle # wasn't all that heavy for a 747 to carry. Couldn't one just use some # of that extra capacity to just carry more fuel? # The Shuttle weighs about as much as a normal 747-load of passengers, # luggage, seats, etc. The actual Shuttle weight depends on its # configuration, since a satellite may be in the payload bay, for # example. They don't remove satellites here at Edwards. Also remember that, while the weight may be about the same or even much less than a normal 747 passenger, freight, and fuel load, that 747 is contending with one _hell_ of a lot more drag than a normal 747... Face it, folks, much as I love the Shuttle, it's about as aerodynamic as a well-rounded brick. -Brent -- Brent Chapman Telebit Corporation Sun Network Specialist 1315 Chesapeake Terrace brent@telebit.com Sunnyvale, CA 94089 Phone: 408/745-3264