Re: What Happened to the MMU?



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"Gene Cash" <gcash.spam.is.bogus@xxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:7iuypzom.fsf@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Pat Flannery <flanner@xxxxxxxxxx> writes:

Henry Spencer wrote:
As future plans -- like those for the Syncom
repair -- accordingly ditched the fancy hardware, they also lost their
requirement for the MMU.

Which is a pity; as with a MMU on board, they could have easily had an
astronaut look at Columbia's wing.

But an MMU weighs a good chunk, plus you've got to train on it.

However, so does the current inspection boom system, and you've got to
train on it too.

Now the question is, how much does the current boom system weigh?

And is the general-purpose MMU a better tool than the boom laser system
which is very specialized but can measure exactly how much that gap-
filler is sticking out, and be counted on to scan the entire surface
without missing a spot?

The MMU is far far cooler, but the boom is probably more practical.

Of course what we NEED to do is to stop the patch-it-up-and-fly-again
and design a 2nd generation system learning from the lessons of Shuttle.

But NASA would probably ball that up by doing it "business as usual" and
Congress is not stupid enough to throw money down a bottomless pit

As I recall, the gap fillers were imaged by the hi res still photog by the
ISS crew.
Jim in Houston
NOSPaMjgoodrun@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Nurse's creed: Fill what's empty, empty what's full, and scratch where it
itches!!


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Relevant Pages

  • Re: What Happened to the MMU?
    ... However, so does the current inspection boom system, and you've got to ... And is the general-purpose MMU a better tool than the boom laser system ... For routine surveillance of the whole surface, ...
    (sci.space.history)
  • Re: What Happened to the MMU?
    ... requirement for the MMU. ... But an MMU weighs a good chunk, plus you've got to train on it. ... However, so does the current inspection boom system, and you've got to ... the OBSS can be used as an EVA repair platform. ...
    (sci.space.history)
  • What Happened to the MMU?
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  • Re: What Happened to the MMU?
    ... requirement for the MMU. ... Which is a pity; as with a MMU on board, they could have easily had an ... They wouldn't have flown it on that mission anyway, ... Fill what's empty, empty what's full, ...
    (sci.space.history)
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