[net.space] Ditching the ET

KFL@MC.LCS.MIT.EDU ("Keith F. Lynch") (02/22/86)

    From: decwrl!dec-rhea!dec-crvax1!kaplow@ucbvax.berkeley.edu (Reach for
    the Stars)

    I beleieve that they want the ET to burn up to prevent the shuttle
    orbital path from getting cluttered up with empty ETs.

  I think that the ET would be in an unstable orbit that would crash
into the Earth at a random point after a few weeks.  They ditch it,
even though it takes more energy, so that it will land in the ocean
and not hit anyone.  With a little more energy, it could be dragged up
to a stable orbital altitude.
								...Keith