Newsgroups: sci.space.shuttle
Path: utzoo!henry
From: henry@utzoo.uucp (Henry Spencer)
Subject: Re: Installation of TDRS
Message-ID: <1988Aug28.000604.16249@utzoo.uucp>
Organization: U of Toronto Zoology
References: <13809@ames.arc.nasa.gov> <1271@nunki.usc.edu>
Date: Sun, 28 Aug 88 00:06:04 GMT

In article <1271@nunki.usc.edu> calexand@castor.usc.edu (Craig Alexander) writes:
>	Is the TDRS satellite loaded on the shuttle while its on the
>launch pad in the vertical position, or is the shuttle lowered to the
>surface for payload installation???

TDRS is loaded in vertically on the pad.  The orbiter can't be lowered to
the surface except by rolling the whole assembly back to the VAB, where
there are cranes capable of handling the orbiter.  Some payloads, notably
Spacelab, go aboard horizontally before the shuttle is stacked.  If I recall
correctly, they are the exception rather than the rule.
-- 
Intel CPUs are not defective,  |     Henry Spencer at U of Toronto Zoology
they just act that way.        | uunet!attcan!utzoo!henry henry@zoo.toronto.edu