todd5ski - 3/3/2008 12:33 PMOn the upcoming Hubble Mission, are we leaving behind a form of docking mechanism for a deorbit saletilite to dock with?
Jim - 3/3/2008 12:10 PMJust thought I would continue the discussion. The choices are what is going to happen and not what you want to happen.
jacqmans - 3/3/2008 1:12 PMShuttle retrieval is not possible, all orbiters have an extended airlock now, zo Hubble will not fit anymore.....
Jim - 3/3/2008 1:40 PMThe issue for a retrieval mission is that the payload bay would be empty on the way up
rdale - 3/3/2008 11:48 AMQuotetodd5ski - 3/3/2008 12:33 PMOn the upcoming Hubble Mission, are we leaving behind a form of docking mechanism for a deorbit saletilite to dock with? Yep... There's an article with more details if you aren't on L2:http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/content/?cid=4997
clongton - 3/3/2008 1:51 PMAnd to your specific point, am I correct that Shuttle with an empty cargo bay cannot be properly balanced for ascent to orbit?Chuck
psloss - 3/3/2008 2:28 PMPerhaps Jim or Jorge or one of the pros can help out with the current orbiter downmass limit(s), but even with all the mods from the different servicing missions, HST "weighs" less than Node 2 did at launch. (~27000 pounds vs. ~30000 pounds). That volume from the primary mirror forward to the aperture door is very sparsely filled.
clongton - 3/3/2008 8:35 PMI know HST weighs less than those modules, but that wasn’t the point. There is a limit on how much mass Shuttle is allowed to retrieve because of the stress it places on the vehicle when it sets down on the runway. That’s the number I was looking for.