I have read that the reason that the STS had to have a fixed service structure at the pad is due to the fact that the crawler system couldn't handle the weight of the Shuttle Stack plus a service structure on the MLP due mostly to the weight of the SRBs.
My question is, even if the SRBs didn't weigh that much (let's pretend they had gone with LRBs) could an MLP with service structures and the shuttle stack even be able to fit inside the high bay and get out? I assume the RSS would have been needed in addition to the tower to protect the orbiter and provide the pad access for payload an whatever else.
I have read that the reason that the STS had to have a fixed service structure at the pad is due to the fact that the crawler system couldn't handle the weight of the Shuttle Stack plus a service structure on the MLP due mostly to the weight of the SRBs.
My question is, even if the SRBs didn't weigh that much (let's pretend they had gone with LRBs) could an MLP with service structures and the shuttle stack even be able to fit inside the high bay and get out? I assume the RSS would have been needed in addition to the tower to protect the orbiter and provide the pad access for payload an whatever else.
It was not just weight but location. it moved from the front of the MLP to the side
It was not just weight but location. it moved from the front of the MLP to the side
So due to the location it would have been impossible no matter the weight of the stack?
It was not just weight but location. it moved from the front of the MLP to the side
So due to the location it would have been impossible no matter the weight of the stack?
Not impossible but costly. VAB door redesign etc