Re: Brute force re-entry

From: Mike Miller (cray74_at_hotmail.com)
Date: 09/04/04 

To: sci-space-tech@moderators.isc.org
Date:  4 Sep 2004 11:17:46 -0700

navigaiter2002@aol.comSpamsuX.retro.com (Allen Meece) wrote in message news:<20040903222050.22406.00000138@mb-m01.aol.com>...
> This is the second poster who erroneously contends that it takes as much to
> brake an empty shuttle out of orbit as it did to get the fully fueled orbiter
> into orbit.

Simple question: how much delta-V are you expecting the rockets to
brake the shuttle? By 100mph or the full 17500mph?

> C'mon guys, it only takes a fraction of the launch fuel to brake the empty
> craft.

The rockets that launch the shuttle essentially put an empty vehicle
into orbit, give or take 20 tons of payload and OMS fuel. A fully
empty shuttle (~90 tons) would take ~1800 tons of fuel to brake from
orbital velocity to 0mph.

Mike Miller, Materials Engineer