kwan@smeagol.UUCP (Richard Kwan) (02/20/86)
In <8602181610.AA02089@mitre-bedford.ARPA>, C. Byrnes writes: > I'm surprised the US and USSR don't have a treaty that would > encourage an observation/rescue capability for the first few flights > of new spacecraft... I thought that was the point of the Apollo/Soyuz docking exercise way back when. Granted, having done it once is different from having a treaty to ensure active maintanance of that capability. However, with multiple orbiters, perhaps we have some home-grown capability to do the same. Some questions: 1. Does the shuttle orbiter utilize the same docking collar specifications as Apollo? 2. Was much thought given to the possibility of a stranded shuttle? I presume launching a second shuttle was an option, although that would mean that a rendevous vehicle is ready to go while another is actually sitting on the pad. -- Rick Kwan JPL Spacecraft Data Systems -------------------------------------------------------------------- "...jumpin' into hyperspace ain't like dustin' crops, boy." H. Solo --------------------------------------------------------------------
henry@utzoo.UUCP (Henry Spencer) (02/23/86)
> 1. Does the shuttle orbiter utilize the same docking collar > specifications as Apollo? No, a shuttle carrying a docking system (none have so far, for lack of need) would use the international standard docking system, agreed on between the US and USSR some years ago. I believe it's pretty much the same as the one the Soviets use right now. > 2. Was much thought given to the possibility of a stranded shuttle? > I presume launching a second shuttle was an option... That's why the shuttle carries "beach ball" rescue spheres for those astronauts not fitted for space suits. You'd need a lot of luck in the timing, unless launch rate really picks up from the 1985 experience, though. Right now (ignoring the suspension of launches since the Challenger disaster) the odds of a second shuttle being ready in time aren't good. -- Henry Spencer @ U of Toronto Zoology {allegra,ihnp4,linus,decvax}!utzoo!henry