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Path: utzoo!linus!decvax!bellcore!ulysses!mhuxr!mhuxt!houxm!ihnp4!mmm!mrgofor
From: mrgofor@mmm.UUCP (MKR)
Newsgroups: net.columbia
Subject: Re: Re: Side comment on the disaster
Message-ID: <499@mmm.UUCP>
Date: Thu, 13-Feb-86 10:17:45 EST
Article-I.D.: mmm.499
Posted: Thu Feb 13 10:17:45 1986
Date-Received: Sun, 16-Feb-86 09:09:28 EST
References: <1758@druxu.UUCP> <9400003@ada-uts.UUCP>
Reply-To: mrgofor@mmm.UUCP (MKR)
Organization: none
Lines: 31
Summary: 

In article <9400003@ada-uts.UUCP> callen@ada-uts.UUCP writes:
>
>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.
>
>- Jerry Callen     ...ihnp4!inmet!ada-uts!callen

Yes, we have had practice, but I'm not sure it has become easy to us yet.
Seems to me that docking provides all sorts of inherent problems that
aren't there if everything is done at once. (launch windows, weather,
docking, maneuvering, collisions in space, orbital rendezvous calculations,
etc.)
	Also, consider the extra overhead to launch two vehicles - more
fuel, twice as many possibilitites for explosion, etc.

	On the other hand, maybe it would be a good idea to have a reusable
vehicle just to ferry humans back and forth to the space station. (could
they put a Greyhound in the cargo bay?)