Does anybody know how long an IUS (or any other solid rocket motor for that matter) can stay in space and still remain operational?
A STAR-48 was used on Magellan for Venus orbit insertion. Reconsats had SRM's in the recovery capsules for deorbit. The LEASAT on STS 51-G (I believe) was in orbit until the repair mission.
Assuming that the IUS stages are used in such a way that the satellite is only carried to a standard GTO (as opposed to direct orbit insertion as it was done in history), what is the maximum payload that can be carried?