[ale] OT: Space Shuttle Columbia

[tfreeman at intel.digichem.net]

On 5 Feb 2003, Jeff Hubbs wrote:

> > Weight. It takes plenty of fuel to orbit each pound (somebody around here 
> > will have the ratio to hand). So you don't carry an EVA suit so you can 
> > reach a higher altitude, or carry something else. There is a reason those 
> > blasted tiles are so fragile - and part of it is weight, or perhaps more 
> > accurately lack thereof.
> 
> Hm, if I follow that logic, wouldn't they be able to leave behind one
> main engine or an APU or two?  

Hmm. Leave behind a main engine and reduce the amount of thrust available 
to reach orbit. That doesn't sound right.

> 
> I would also like to know what about this particular mission mandated
> any particular altitude?  Why NOT make this mission's orbit
> ISS-rendezvous-friendly?

Because, if I read the paper correctly and the paper got it right (big 
pair of assumptions), ISS is at the extreme range of altitude for Columbia 
to begin with.

> 
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