WMARTIN@OFFICE-8@sri-unix (06/11/82)
From: WMartin at Office-8 (Will Martin) I have seen references to the method of using the Shuttle to launch satellites into higher orbits than it itself achieves, by carrying up a relatively small booster which is used to move the satllite up to the desired orbit. But how is the Shuttle going to RETRIEVE satellites for repair or refurbishment or whatever from those higher orbits? Does it go up with less payload and go directly to the higher orbit, or carry a small craft which goes to get that satellite and bring it down to the Shuttle level? If the latter, is this manned or robotic? How is the repair/retrieval going to fit into the mission schedule? Do they plan on using satellite-launching missions to bring back old satellites in the then-empty payload bay? Are repair-in-space activities to be carried out when needed via EVA on otherwise-scheduled missions on a time-available basis, or are they going to be put off until some future mission with available time unassigned as yet? I would assume military satellite maintenance would have priority; how are commercial satellite repair missions charged for? (Time and materials, with some overhead costs or the like to cover Shuttle launch and use costs, flat rates, or what?) Can a commercial organization like one of the global carriers buy quicker service for some higher costs on a malfunctioning commo satellite, or will there be no provisions for private parties buying priority service? Who is going to actually perform the repairs? Will the organization involved send up its own astronaut-trained technician(s) to fix its own satellites, or do they train a NASA astronaut to be a satellite repairman? (Hmmm... AAABCO Satellite and TV Repair: "We Go Anywhere!"...) Thinking about this just leads me to more and more questions... Will Martin