To: DAC21
If for what ever reason that is not doable, I believe they have capability to go to the Space station to ride it out.
No they don't. The Hubble orbit is inclined 28.5 degrees to the equator. The space station orbit is inclined something like 51 degrees. The Shuttle cannot make such an orbital inclination change with the amount of fuel it has on board.
Think of it this way. Think of two straight interstate roads that intersect at some angle. If you are chasing a car on that road at high speed, it's relatively easy to catch the car just by changing your speed to match the speed of the car. But if that car you're chasing is on the other road, it's not easy making a turn at very high speeds to get onto the other road. Think of how fast the Shuttle is moving in orbit, you just can't make inclinational orbit changes easily.
108 posted on
05/13/2009 6:15:37 AM PDT by
plsvn
To: plsvn
What a mess.
We have to have a new system and more importantly a new desire to conquer the divide of space.
No matter what Washington D.C. thinks.
110 posted on
05/13/2009 6:19:44 AM PDT by
Kakaze
(Exterminate Islamofacism and apologize for nothing.....except not doing it sooner!)
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