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From: AC%MIT-OZ@MIT-MC.ARPA
Newsgroups: net.space
Subject: Solar Max Mission Failure/Success
Message-ID: <12153@sri-arpa.UUCP>
Date: Tue, 10-Apr-84 08:52:33 EST
Article-I.D.: sri-arpa.12153
Posted: Tue Apr 10 08:52:33 1984
Date-Received: Sun, 15-Apr-84 09:13:00 EST
Lines: 23

From:  Anthony J. Courtemanche <AC%MIT-OZ@MIT-MC.ARPA>


   But the way it is now, we may run out of fuel and have to end the
   mission as an 80% failure, it's gonna be close as I type this on
   Monday evening.

Somehow I disagree that the failure percentage would be that high.  I
consider it a great success that the astronaut who was flying the MMU (I
forget his name now) was able to successfully approach the rotating
satellite. The failure was (as I understand it) only with the device
that was to attach with the pin on the Solar Max.  To me that
indicates only that a small piece of machinery isn't up to par.
Correct me if I'm wrong, but wasn't it the case that during the Gemini
project, docking procedures were practiced and it was found to be
extremely difficult.  Now we can stap a man with a backpack and he is
able successfully approach and get in contact with a rotating object
in space.  I consider this a success in it's own right.

					Optimistically Yours
					Anthony J. Courtemanche
					AC@MIT-OZ
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