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#2920
by
Overflow
on 06 Aug, 2013 15:30
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Sorry if this has been asked before.. But after the loss of STS-107, was there ever the slightest talk about replacing Columbia with another shuttle? Or even replacing the entire fleet with new shuttles?
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#2921
by
Jim
on 06 Aug, 2013 15:37
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Sorry if this has been asked before.. But after the loss of STS-107, was there ever the slightest talk about replacing Columbia with another shuttle? Or even replacing the entire fleet with new shuttles?
Not new shuttles, but new systems such as OSP, commercial crew, etc.
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#2922
by
Overflow
on 06 Aug, 2013 15:38
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Sorry if this has been asked before.. But after the loss of STS-107, was there ever the slightest talk about replacing Columbia with another shuttle? Or even replacing the entire fleet with new shuttles?
Not new shuttles, but new systems such as OSP, commercial crew, etc.
Thank you for the info, Jim!
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#2923
by
psloss
on 06 Aug, 2013 15:40
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But after the loss of STS-107, was there ever the slightest talk about replacing Columbia with another shuttle?
Perhaps a little, but there was more serious talk and consideration to ending the program at that point.
Or even replacing the entire fleet with new shuttles?
No.
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#2924
by
DaveS
on 09 Aug, 2013 18:33
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Anyone know the depth of the two ET umbilical wells on the orbiter?
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#2925
by
DaveS
on 12 Aug, 2013 02:32
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Another question: When retracted and the doors closed, does the NLG tires rest on the inside of the doors or is are they above them?
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#2926
by
alk3997
on 12 Aug, 2013 03:43
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Another question: When retracted and the doors closed, does the NLG tires rest on the inside of the doors or is are they above them?
Dave, it would have to be above. The gear/tires when retracted was hooked in. If they were against the door any vibration would cause the gear to be intermittently impact the door. That would not be good since that was a barrier against reentry heating.
Also the tires would change shape when there was no atmospheric pressure against them on-orbit. An inflatable tire is not static when the external pressure goes from 15 psia to 0 psia and then back again.
http://science.ksc.nasa.gov/shuttle/technology/sts-newsref/sts-gear.html
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#2927
by
AnalogMan
on 12 Aug, 2013 11:32
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Another question: When retracted and the doors closed, does the NLG tires rest on the inside of the doors or is are they above them?
Above, as noted by alk3997. See the attached diagram.
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#2928
by
DaveS
on 13 Aug, 2013 14:17
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Thanks to both you. That settles it nicely. Anyone know the measurements between the different elements pointed out by the arrows in the attached photo?
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#2929
by
Hoonte
on 14 Aug, 2013 11:35
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Are there any contingency plans if the ET doesn't separate?
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#2930
by
Jim
on 14 Aug, 2013 12:03
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Are there any contingency plans if the ET doesn't separate?
No survivable scenarios existed
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#2931
by
DMeader
on 14 Aug, 2013 13:11
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Are there any contingency plans if the ET doesn't separate?
No survivable scenarios existed
Which brought to mind a question I've wondered about for a while. Lots of SF stories describe various vehicles and structures built from expended Shuttle external tanks. Was it even possible for the Shuttle to take the tank all the way into orbit?
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#2932
by
Jim
on 14 Aug, 2013 13:38
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Which brought to mind a question I've wondered about for a while. Lots of SF stories describe various vehicles and structures built from expended Shuttle external tanks. Was it even possible for the Shuttle to take the tank all the way into orbit?
Yes, at the expense of payload. The shuttle was suborbital at the time of ET sep for the specific reason of ET disposal. There is no reason it couldn't take it to orbit.
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#2933
by
DMeader
on 14 Aug, 2013 14:32
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The shuttle was suborbital at the time of ET sep for the specific reason of ET disposal.
I understand that...so would this have been a longer main engine burn (was there enough prop for that) or OMS?
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#2934
by
Jim
on 14 Aug, 2013 14:54
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The shuttle was suborbital at the time of ET sep for the specific reason of ET disposal.
I understand that...so would this have been a longer main engine burn (was there enough prop for that) or OMS?
reduced payload
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#2935
by
Overflow
on 14 Aug, 2013 17:48
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On the front of the Shuttles, there are always white streaks near the nose. What is that?
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#2936
by
Jim
on 14 Aug, 2013 17:49
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On the front of the Shuttles, there are always white streaks near the nose. What is that?
Waterproofing and RTV cooking off
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#2937
by
Overflow
on 14 Aug, 2013 19:10
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Now here's a personal one for you, Jim. How do you know so much about the Shuttle off the top of your head?
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#2938
by
Jim
on 14 Aug, 2013 19:40
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Now here's a personal one for you, Jim. How do you know so much about the Shuttle off the top of your head?
Got my first NASA shuttle document in 1976.
Got the Shuttle News Reference in 1980
Was in the USAF Shuttle program office 83-88
Worked USAF Shuttle Payload ops at Cape from 88-92
Worked Spacehab ground ops from 92-00
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#2939
by
psloss
on 14 Aug, 2013 20:27
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