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From: henry@utzoo.UUCP (Henry Spencer)
Newsgroups: sci.space.shuttle,sci.space
Subject: Re: Things aint so bad
Message-ID: <8621@utzoo.UUCP>
Date: Sat, 19-Sep-87 20:19:02 EDT
Article-I.D.: utzoo.8621
Posted: Sat Sep 19 20:19:02 1987
Date-Received: Sat, 19-Sep-87 20:19:02 EDT
References: <13312@amdahl.amdahl.com> <7973@think.UUCP>
Organization: U of Toronto Zoology
Lines: 24

> How does the Mir compare with Skylab, besides the obvious fact that we no
> longer have Skylab.

Roughly speaking:

1. Mir is quite a bit smaller than Skylab.  Necessarily so, it was launched
	by a rather smaller booster.

2. Mir has four docking ports earmarked for future expansion plus two used
	for routine operations, where Skylab had one plus an emergency spare.
	(It did have expansion ports originally, but lost them later in its
	development when it became clear that they would never be used.)

3. Mir has a propulsion system used to reboost it periodically, Skylab didn't.

4. Mir is designed to be resupplied in space, Skylab was not (for lack of a
	suitable cargo vehicle and because, again, it was clear that the
	capability would never be used).

5. In short, Skylab was a one-shot while Mir is the nucleus of an ongoing
	space-station project.
-- 
"There's a lot more to do in space   |  Henry Spencer @ U of Toronto Zoology
than sending people to Mars." --Bova | {allegra,ihnp4,decvax,utai}!utzoo!henry