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From: wdm@ecn-pc.UUCP (Tex)
Newsgroups: net.columbia
Subject: Re: Re: Side comment on the disaster
Message-ID: <484@ecn-pc.UUCP>
Date: Fri, 21-Feb-86 10:14:28 EST
Article-I.D.: ecn-pc.484
Posted: Fri Feb 21 10:14:28 1986
Date-Received: Mon, 24-Feb-86 06:38:03 EST
References: <1758@druxu.UUCP> <9400003@ada-uts.UUCP> <2803@amdahl.UUCP> <740@astrovax.UUCP>
Reply-To: wdm@ecn-pc.UUCP (Tex)
Followup-To: net.space
Organization: Cybotech Product Development Laboratory
Lines: 23

In article <740@astrovax.UUCP> wls@astrovax.UUCP (William L. Sebok) writes:
>In article <2803@amdahl.UUCP> ems@amdahl.UUCP (E. Michael Smith) writes:
>>How you gonna bring back that locomotive sized payload when you
>>want to fix it, retire it, analyse it, sell it, etc. if you don't have
>>a nice big cargo bay to put it in?
>
>It seems that we eventually need a small payload launch system and a large
>payload launch system (and even further down the road a spectrum of launch
>system sizes).  Reusability is (to some extent) a separate issue: it would be
>nice if the the small payload lauch system were reuseable.  The small launch
>system could either be unmanned or have a single pilot.  One doesn't always
>need an 18 wheel truck to carry something that would fit in the trunk of your
>small car.

   You didn't answer the question - what do you do when it is time to bring
   back something large?  There are few items of interest in LEO that would
   fit in the trunk of a small car.  Reuseabiltiy is a critical issue because
   it is tied so closely to cost.  I also disagree that a small payload 
   launch system is the way to go - once you start putting the mass of a
   launcher into orbit, the incremental cost of additional payload is small-
   Putting a several thousand pound launcher into orbit to deliver a one 
   hundred pound payload does not make any sense.