djmolny (06/21/82)
Wait a minute. I just thought of something. Why are they testing the shuttle's crosswind capabilities *now*? Why weren't they tested on the Enterprise, when it was cheap to fly the thing? (It's gotta be cheaper to strap it to a 747 than to actually launch the sucker!) Anybody know? -- DJ Molny ihnss!ihuxn!djmolny
sjb (06/22/82)
I believe the Enterprise drop tests that were performed in the late 70's were to merely make sure the shuttle can land. Since it in effect falls like a rock, NASA wanted to see how it performed in the air; in those early stages of tests, I would think that crosswind landings would have been considered too risky.