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From: john@frog.UUCP (John Woods, Software)
Newsgroups: net.space
Subject: Re: scuttle the shuttle?
Message-ID: <644@frog.UUCP>
Date: Mon, 10-Feb-86 13:39:41 EST
Article-I.D.: frog.644
Posted: Mon Feb 10 13:39:41 1986
Date-Received: Fri, 14-Feb-86 03:31:11 EST
References: <8602071650.AA11720@s1-b.arpa>
Organization: Superfrog Heaven [ CRDS, Framingham MA ]
Lines: 37

> > Why wouldn't LEO EVA expertise transfer to GEO?
> 
>  Because it's hard to keep people in GEO.  Teleoperator technology would
> extend easily, perhaps all the way to the moon.
> 
Not necessarily.  The longer the time-lag of the control, the harder it will
be for a ground-based operator to control something.  Eventually you will get
to the point where too few operations can be ground controlled, and you'll
need local intelligence.  So far, electronic intelligence is not as capable of
handling unpredictable situations like repair.

> [dot dot dot]
> 
> > 	Finally, remember Skylab?  I'm damned glad we didn't have a robot
> > trying to repair *that*; it never would have had any power.
> 
> Current teleoperators couldn't have repaired Skylab, but the Skylab failure
> was hardly a typical failure mode.  Replacement of defective or burned out
> electronics, replenishment of expendable fluids and replacement of worn
> mechanical parts would, I think, account for 90% of maintenance
> activities in space.  There's no sense treating rare cases as typical.
> 
First, designing satellites so that they can easily be serviced by crude
manipulators will add somewhat to their cost.  Second, while these routine
operations may account for 90% of the maintenance activities, the remaining
10% imply loss of the satellite without more flexible repair.  The rare
cases may not be typical, but if they are costly enough, they'll dominate
your budget.

--
John Woods, Charles River Data Systems, Framingham MA, (617) 626-1101
...!decvax!frog!john, ...!mit-eddie!jfw, jfw%mit-ccc@MIT-XX.ARPA

This space dedicated to Challenger and her crew,
Francis R. Scobee, Michael J. Smith, Ellison S. Onizuka, Judith Resnik,
Ronald E. McNair, Gregory B. Jarvis, and Christa McAuliffe.

"...and slipped the surly bonds of Earth to touch the face of God."