jcp@brl-bmd@sri-unix.UUCP (07/17/83)
From: J. C. Pistritto <jcp@brl-bmd> Re TDRS satellites: On reading the most recent Aviation Week, my opinion was that NASA has already definitely scrubbed launch of the TDRS-2 on STS-8, (the payload flight test article has been substituted as a payload), and the the STS-11 launch, (March '84) of TDRS-3 is in doubt. All oth of this stems from a lack of certification of the Boeing-IUS booster that put TDRS-1 in the wrong orbit. A current line of investigation by NASA is the substitution of a McDonald Douglas Delta second stage with a PAM (Payload Assist Module, what lanched the two comsats on the last mission) as a terminal circularization booster. Since this would involve inserting a FUELED liquid fuel booster into the payload bay, (and keeping it their for mutiple days), there are significant flight safety considerations here. Douglas says that this configuration could possibly be ready in time for STS-11 or perhaps a slightly delayed launch. At this time there are no plans to delay the STS-9 Spacelab launch unless TDRS-1 fails in some way. -JCP-