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From: karn@petrus.UUCP (Phil R. Karn)
Newsgroups: net.space
Subject: Re: Shuttle reliability for Comsats
Message-ID: <710@petrus.UUCP>
Date: Thu, 5-Dec-85 13:46:45 EST
Article-I.D.: petrus.710
Posted: Thu Dec  5 13:46:45 1985
Date-Received: Sat, 7-Dec-85 17:05:47 EST
References: <8512050706.AA26780@s1-b.arpa>
Organization: Bell Communications Research, Inc
Lines: 14

> Although it is a small point, no communication satellite launched by the
> shuttle has ever been destroyed or irretrievably lost. To recount, the TDRS
> made to its station by consuming most of its reserve fuel after the second
> stage of the IUS failed, the two satellites stranded by PAM failures
> were recovered, and the Hughes Leasat was repaired and made its way to
> geosynchronous orbit.

And the Leasat launched on the the very same rescue mission failed promptly
after reaching geostationary orbit, beyond service-call range of the shuttle.

Our highest priority right now should be a LEO/GEO transfer vehicle,
which is even more important than the space station.

Phil