Posted on 02/27/2003 3:35:45 PM PST by Henk
Mostly science, probably. That is supposedly the purpose of the ISS, so the question now might be whether to put all science on the ISS and stop flying separate shuttle missions except for Hubble type satellite maintenance.
Columbia was the first orbiter built. The others were built lighter.
Also, other modifications had to be made to enable the fleet to achieve the orbital inclination of the proposed ISS.
Mods to the main engines, SRB's and ET had to be made.
Taxpayers paid a lot of money in order for the Russians to be a part of the ISS.
The orbit of the ISS favors the Russians.
They won't be using the shuttle for that much longer. Big satellites need big rockets, and the shuttle is about the biggest. The other big one is the Titan IV. A BDB based on shuttle hardware could be flying very quickly if they take that route.
The original designs for space shuttles were for a lighter smaller craft to achieve high orbit and docking with space stations
Wouldn't be surprising to see that idea implemented in the near future.
I said Columbia was the first "orbiter" built. Enterprise was not an orbiter.
It was a test vehicle.
It was scheduled to go to the space station in November of 2003. It was going to be STS-118.
The Delta IV and Atlas V will be the new heavy launch vehicles. They are very scalable for different size payloads, and should be much more cost efficient and reliable that the Titan IV. I believe the Titan IV program is coming to an end.
The purpose of the ISS is to create work for the shuttles. The secondary mission for the ISS and the shuttles is to bring multiculturalism, diversity, and tolerance into space at great expense. An expense than now includes seven lives.
I came across a year old document on the web earlier today. Ironically it said that STS-107 was to have been the Columbia's last mission. The plan was to mothball it to save money. However, since then another mission had been added. Another teacher in space mission planned for later this year.
The orbiter Columbia, veteran of 26 Space Shuttle flights, is slated to depart Kennedy Space Center, FL, on Friday, Sept. 24, headed for Palmdale, CA. The oldest of four orbiters in NASA's fleet will undergo extensive inspections and modifications in Boeing's Orbiter Assembly Facility during a nine-month orbiter maintenance down period (OMDP).
This is Columbia's second OMDP, an action that periodically removes each of NASA's orbiters from flight operations. Though Columbia has undergone other major modifications in Palmdale, CA, its first OMDP was in 1994.
While in California, workers will perform more than 100 modifications on the vehicle. Columbia will be the second orbiter outfitted with the multi-functional electronic display system (MEDS) or "glass cockpit". Last year, Shuttle Atlantis had the full-color, flat-panel displays installed on its flight deck during an OMDP. The new system improves crew interaction with the orbiter during flight and reduces the high cost of maintaining the outdated electromechanical cockpit displays currently onboard.
While her sister ships are being outfitted with external airlocks in support of the International Space Station assembly, Columbia's internal airlock will not be removed during this OMDP. Thus, Columbia will continue to be able to accommodate payloads requiring the orbiter's 60-foot long cargo bay. Though not currently slated to dock with the International Space Station, Columbia will be given additional wire harnesses and connectors while at Palmdale to allow installation of the Orbiter Docking System at Kennedy Space Center. This prepares Columbia for docking operations with the space station if plans change.
While at Palmdale, Columbia's 100 miles of wiring will be given a thorough inspection. This is part of NASA's fleet wide wiring inspection. The wiring problem was first identified on Columbia as a result of the STS-93 mission.
Preparation work for an enhanced Global Positioning Satellite system capability will also be performed on Columbia. When installed, the new system will more accurately pinpoint the orbiter's location in flight. A space-to-space orbiter radio and wireless video modification will increase communication capabilities for Columbia's future crew members and space walkers. In addition to scheduled weight saving modifications, Columbia's radiators or coolant lines will be enhanced for protection from orbital debris.
Columbia was rolled out of KSC's Orbiter Processing Facility bay 3 today, bound for the Shuttle Landing Facility's Mate-Demate Device. Later today, the orbiter will be mated, in "piggy-back" fashion, to the Boeing 747 Shuttle Carrier Aircraft (SCA). Ferry flight departure may occur as early as 7 a.m. Friday, Sept. 24.
The coupled orbiter and SCA are expected to make a one-day cross-country flight to California, with a planned refueling stop at the Naval Air Station in Fort Worth, Texas. All ferry flight plans are subject to weather restrictions and alternate landing sites may be selected en route if necessary. The original ferry flight plan included an overnight stop at Luke Air Force Base in Arizona for refueling and to accommodate several Air Force public affairs events. Following the crash of an F-16 at Luke on Monday and an expected one-day slip in Columbia's arrival in Arizona, Luke officials expressed Shuttle support concerns and agreed to cancel the visit.
Ferry flight rules state the orbiter/SCA cannot fly through precipitation, thick clouds or high turbulence. There are also wind and temperature restrictions. Following the modification period, Columbia is expected to return to KSC in July of 2000.
I looked on their website, all I saw was the video they had on the air this AM about the puncture found on top of the wing over the landing gear well.
The teacher who was scheduled to go on that mission was also Christie McAuliffe's backup on the Challenger. One lucky woman.
Anyway, I posted because I thought I'd give a heads up to those interested. Sorry I had no link, I saw it on TV.
If such a booster were built, the remaining modules for the ISS should be launched with it instead of the shuttles. It would take fewer launches to get them up if all the weight it lifts can stay in orbit rather than most of it coming back to Cape Canaveral. If most of the the supply missions to the ISS were flown by unmanned missions, the space shuttles chould be modified to allow much longer duration flights. If shuttles could stay docked for 1-3 months to the ISS, it would be possible to have larger crews long before the new space plane is ready to fly.
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