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From: callen@ada-uts.UUCP
Newsgroups: net.columbia
Subject: Re: Re: Side comment on the disaster
Message-ID: <9400003@ada-uts.UUCP>
Date: Mon, 10-Feb-86 12:03:00 EST
Article-I.D.: ada-uts.9400003
Posted: Mon Feb 10 12:03:00 1986
Date-Received: Thu, 13-Feb-86 17:11:10 EST
References: <1758@druxu.UUCP>
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Nf-ID: #R:druxu:-175800:ada-uts:9400003:000:1805
Nf-From: ada-uts!callen    Feb 10 12:03:00 1986


oliven!barb writes:

>Which warns us who *believe* in the Manned Space Program that we dare
>not succumb to complacency.  Already the first throes of our shock and
>grief are passing -- the opposition rises.  We MUST let our government
>officials know the depth of our support for the Manned Space Program.
>Now, they and the networks seem to be in support -- but two months from
>now?  Let them know we WANT the program to continue -- that every step
>forward has a price, but we *learn* from it and still go on!
                             =======

I support the Peopled Space Program too, but not necessarily the shuttle.
(Don flameproof suit.) I'm not at ALL convinced that the shuttle is the
right way for us to be exploring space. It has seemed to me for a long
that we could do a better, safer job by isolating the seperate functions
of the shuttle into two independent but interrelated systems - a PAYLOAD
launch system and a PEOPLE launch system. Let's face it - we HAD several
cheap, fairly reliable boosters for mid to large size payloads (Delta,
which was FAIRLY reliable, and Titan IIIc, which was VERY reliable and
could put a locomotive-sized payload into low earth orbit). Why not build
a much SMALLER (and probably less complex) orbiter WITHOUT the huge cargo
bay that we could boost with something like the IIIc, a proven booster
that uses relatively easily handled (corrosive, but not very cold)
hypergolic fuels? Launch the payload and the personnel in seperate launches
and rendezvous in orbit - we sure have enough practice at THAT little
maneuver.

Does anyone else think this makes any sense? I mean, heck, I'm
just a programmer...

- Jerry Callen     ...ihnp4!inmet!ada-uts!callen

Intermetrics, Inc. wil probably deny that I even WORK there, let alone
agree with my opinions...