jcp@BRL-TGR.ARPA (10/30/84)
From: Joe Pistritto <jcp@BRL-TGR.ARPA> Yes, the attitude control thrusters will be used to de-spin the Palapa satellite and its lost brother. As a matter of fact, this has already been accomplished, I believe. The thrusters will be of course, deactivated from performing ANY control functions when the orbiter approaches the satellites. The spin rate at contact will be 1 RPM or less. (IT can't be zero, or the satellites would start pitching around, etc. and would require constant thruster firings to maintain a stable attitude). The remaining spin will be killed by the astronaut after he has grappled the satellite. Note that the astronaut will approach from along the spin axis this time, inserting an expandable probe into the solid rocket motor nozzle of the satellite. (Yes, NASA DOES learn from its almost-mistakes, (ie. Solar Max)) -JCP-