[ale] OT: Space Shuttle Columbia

[Jeff Hubbs]

On Wed, 2003-02-05 at 11:37, Geoffrey wrote:
> Jeff Hubbs wrote:
> >>>I believe that an EVA might have provided key information regarding the
> >>>survivability of re-entry.  I envision two courses of action that could
> >>>have been explored: 1) rendezvous/offload of crew to the ISS followed by
> >>>an attempted remote re-entry
> >>
> >>This was deemed not possible since the orbits of the ISS and Columbia 
> >>were on different orbits.  Columbia is not equipt with engines to 
> >>transfer to the ISS orbit.
> > 
> > 
> > But it's equipped with engines (from the pad on up) to get it to the
> > ISS; that much is self-evident.  I feel that Shuttle missions that don't
> > have firm orbital targets (e.g., satellite capture) ought to be
> > scheduled and aimed such that an ISS rendezvous is possible using the
> > available OMS fuel at at least one point in the mission.
> 
> No, actually it's not.  It has engines for maneuvering, not for actual 
> going from point a to point b.  I've heard it said many times, it's 
> nothing more then a huge glider.  To get it to the ISS it is 'pointed' 
> at it and the orbit does most of the work.

I think you're understating it. It's got a pair of actual engines (not
just thrusters) that are sufficient for making major orbital changes
(OMS) - they use them to de-orbit.  Stands to reason that there's a
significant range of orbit changes that could be make with those things.
 

> 
> I agree with the ISS orbital solution, but I don't know enough about the 
> whole thing to understand why this isn't done.  I think I recall them 
> saying that, to do so, requires not only a particular direction, but a 
> particular date/time.  Wouldn't do any good to send it up to the ISS 
> orbit when the ISS is on the other end of the orbit.

Particular date and time, quite possibly.  <facetiousness>Do the
weightless termites have pressing engagements elsewhere?</facetiousness>

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