Re: Can they still go back to ISS?


Yes, they saved back gas for a re-rendezvous if the external
post-sep inspection found a lethal wound. That's why they
did not -- this time -- do a station photo fly-around, like
they usually do. Sometime after the beginning of the deorbit burn,
they no longer have enough gas to stop and head back to the station.



"nmp" <address@xxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:pan.2006.07.16.16.55.09.384872@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Everything seems to be going just fine now, thank goodness, but I was just
curious: if something was found wrong in this stage of the flight, after
separating from ISS and before deorbit, would the Orbiter still be able to
go back to the ISS for the crew to wait for rescue there? If not: where
exactly is the "point of no return"? Would the Orbiter have enough fuel to
somehow "catch up" with the Space Station after their orbits have
diverged?





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