tbetz@dasys1.UUCP (Tom Betz) (06/13/88)
I agree it would be unwise to build a launch base on Hawaii proper. But
the general area is conducive to launch sites, so other alternatives should
be investigated. Has anyone looked into the feasability of artificially-
constructed "islands", perhaps just over the horizon to the south of the
Hawaiian Islands? There must be suitable volcanic reefs there that are
normally submerged... it would be a nontrivial task to install the necessary
facilities, but it would be the least intrusive approach when it comes to
affecting the tourist trade, and much of the facility (that which does not
require absolute stability) could be constructed to float on the sea, much
as oil drilling platforms do. The energy contributed to the launch process
would be considerable... would it be enough to justify the expense? It seems
that it might... and what are the relative pros and cons of sea ditching versus
land ditching as regards safety to crew and others? Strikes me that Hawaii as
a launch location would provide the Shuttle ample opportunity for both.
--
Tom Betz {allegra,philabs,cmcl2}!phri\
ZCNY {bellcore,cmcl2}!cucard!dasys1!tbetz
Yonkers, NY, USA 10701-2509 {sun}!hoptoad/
"Opinions? What opinions? These are >facts<!!"henry@utzoo.uucp (Henry Spencer) (06/17/88)
> ... and what are the relative pros and cons of sea ditching versus > land ditching as regards safety to crew and others? ... As for others, you are less likely to hit something when you come down in the sea because people don't build houses there very often. As for the crew, it makes no real difference because the orbiter is too fragile to survive a ditching. -- Man is the best computer we can | Henry Spencer @ U of Toronto Zoology put aboard a spacecraft. --Von Braun | {ihnp4,decvax,uunet!mnetor}!utzoo!henry