Re: Hypothetical shuttle rescue...

"Lee Jay" (ljfinger@xxxxxxx) writes:
Jorge R. Frank wrote:
1) Damaged shuttle docks to ISS

2) Stranded crew milks consumables from damaged shuttle until depleted

3) Stranded crew configures orbiter for unmanned undocking and remote-
controlled disposal or landing, depending on extent of damage

4) Rescue shuttle docks with ISS

5) Stranded crew comes home with rescue crew

Speaking of which, why doesn't NASA require the next Shuttle to be
stacked and ready for rollout before sending up the preceeding mission
in order to reduce the time before the rescue could occur? There must
be a reason, I just don't know what it is.

$$$$$. Remember that everything at that level costs at least millions
of dollars, and there aren't loads of spare millions lying around
over there.

This is also harder with a three ship Shuttle fleet, V/ a four
ship fleet, where the standard processing flows may well have
one ship just about ready to fly while another one is flying.

Jenkins, 3rd edition, shows a pic of two Orbiters passing
each other on their respective Mobile Launch Platforms, and
notes that having two on launchers is a rare event. And, that
was when there were four Orbiters in the fleet.

Andre

.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: Hypothetical shuttle rescue...
    ... Stranded crew milks consumables from damaged shuttle until depleted ... Rescue shuttle docks with ISS ...
    (sci.space.shuttle)
  • Re: Hypothetical shuttle rescue...
    ... Stranded crew milks consumables from damaged shuttle until depleted ... Rescue shuttle docks with ISS ...
    (sci.space.shuttle)
  • Re: Shuttle - looking dirty
    ... is how dirty or marked Discovery appears. ... there is no question that the orbiters are old and used. ... The shuttle was very exciting for me as a youngster at the time, ... even witness launches right from bedroom window that faced north. ...
    (sci.space.shuttle)
  • Re: Shuttle proves being superb manned spacecraft
    ... Overall the shuttle is in IMHO a very effective and successful manned space operation system, ... 27 year old vehicle, the two fatalies were not due to the shuttle itself, they had to be referred to the launch system. ... Initially the cause of the loss of the orbiters and it's crews are not on the orbiters itself. ... On Challender one of the SRB's was malfunctioning, and on Columbia a chunk of foam caused damage on the orbiter. ...
    (sci.space.shuttle)
  • Re: And what about civilian Shuttle casualties?
    ... NASA calls a "Group C+ Powerdown", which allows the stranded crew to maximize the duration of consumables they can scavenge from the shuttle while retaining the critical capabilities to undock and deorbit *at all*. ... Once the shuttle hits the consumables redline, it *must* undock - either with the crew or without it - or it won't be able to undock at all and the rescue shuttle will have no place to dock. ...
    (sci.space.shuttle)