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From: john@newave.UUCP (John A. Weeks III)
Newsgroups: sci.space.shuttle
Subject: Re: Why is Edwards the primary site?
Message-ID: <825@newave.UUCP>
Date: 10 May 91 22:26:41 GMT
References: <3218.282A166A@ofa123.fidonet.org> <32726@usc>
Reply-To: john@newave.mn.org (John A. Weeks III)
Organization: NeWave Communications Ltd, Eden Prairie, MN
Lines: 36

In article <32726@usc> sharp@mizar.usc.edu (Malcolm Sharp) writes:
> I read that with the shuttle landing at KSC instead of Edwards it
> saves about $1million (plus time).  Why is Edwards used as the
> primary landing area?

There are a number of reasons.  Edwards normally has few storms, so
there is generally a better chance of good weather.  Storms can brew
up over Florida in less than the hour that the shuttle takes to reenter
and land after doing the de-orbit burn.

Many of the Edwards runways are dry lake bottoms.  This is somewhat
easier on the orbiter on landing.  There were some early tire problems
with the shuttle which would have made past landings at KSC a bit
more risky.

Edwards has a number of runways, which means more options at landing.
If a cross wind blows in just before landing, the shuttle can be
directed to a different runway to aviod trying to make a difficult landing.

The biggest reason for avoiding KSC is an issue with the orbiter braking
system.  There have been problems with the older brake pads.  A brake
failure at KSC would result in loss of vehicle when the orbiter ran off
of the end of the runway.  At Edwards, there is nothing but dry lake at
the end of the primary shuttle runways, which reduces the risk to the
orbiter if the brakes fail.  NASA recently started installing carbon
fiber brake pads on the orbiters.  This reduces the brake failure risk
on landing.  To give the orbiter a bit of extra braking margin, NASA
is going to retro-fit the Shuttle with drag chutes.  The new shuttle
already has a chute.

-john-

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John A. Weeks III               (612) 942-6969             john@newave.mn.org
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