Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!mailrus!ames!elroy!peregrine!ccicpg!cci632!djw
From: djw@cci632.UUCP (David Wright)
Newsgroups: sci.space.shuttle
Subject: Shuttle Payload Questions
Message-ID: <26162@cci632.UUCP>
Date: 3 Feb 89 20:10:31 GMT
Reply-To: djw@cci632.UUCP (David Wright)
Distribution: na
Organization: CCI, Communications Systems Division, Rochester, NY
Lines: 27


	I would like to pose a few questions to all you shuttle fanatics
   out there regarding the payload capabilities of the 3 shuttles.

	Is there a difference between Columbia, Atlantis, and Discovery
   structural configurations? Is there any reason why Atlantis is usually
   the orbiter used on DoD missions (going from memory here, don't flame
   me if I remember incorrectly!). Also how come Columbia has been in dry
   dock (is that an applicable term?) for so long? Are they making modif-
   ications to increase the payload capacity? 

	I thought Atlantis was the orbiter that was to launch from Vandenburg.
   If that is the case, was Atlantis (being the last one built if I remember
   correctly) assembled using metals stronger and lighter than were used 
   in previous orbiters. I know NASA was looking at SRB's made with (I believe)
   carbon fiber casings to reduce the overall weight of the shuttle launch
   vehicle. The weight reduction was necessary to (I thought) carry more 
   fuel to allow launches against the Earth's rotation [can you say polar
   orbit with a minimum of manuevers? :-) ]. If these assumptions are correct,
   could Columbia be undergoing a complete retrofit to make her compatible
   with the rest of the fleet? 



Dave Wright					rochester!cci632!djw
Computer Consoles Inc. (CCI)			uunet!ccicpg!cci632!djw
Rochester, NY					uunet!rlgvax!cci632!djw