Path: utzoo!mnetor!uunet!seismo!sundc!pitstop!sun!amdcad!ames!pasteur!agate!ig!uwmcsd1!bbn!rochester!ur-tut!sunybcs!rutgers!mtune!codas!killer!ninja!sys1!trsvax!reyn
From: reyn@trsvax.UUCP
Newsgroups: sci.space.shuttle
Subject: Shuttle's Future?
Message-ID: <191800002@trsvax>
Date: 19 Jan 88 16:12:00 GMT
Lines: 22
Nf-ID: #N:trsvax:191800002:000:923
Nf-From: trsvax.UUCP!reyn    Jan 19 10:12:00 1988


Does anyone know the current status of plans to replace the SRBs with liquid
rocket boosters?  What is the estimated development time for liquid boosters, 
and what increase in payload could reasonably be expected?

I am also curious about the status of shuttle derived HLLVs.  Are any plans
for shuttle derived launchers firm, ie funded in one way or another?  If so,
what is the expected development time for said vehicle, and what projected
payload?

What is the status of the replacement shuttle orbiter?  Has it been funded and
if so, when is its expected completion (a name would be nice too)?

Also, what is the status of Shuttle launched upper stages?  I know that the
vehicle which the Galileo probe was to have used has been deemed too risky,
what are the planned alternatives?

When is the next scheduled Shuttle launch?  I heard a rumor about August, and
I hoped that they meant '88.


						    John Reynolds