[rescue] Re: [geeks] Crap! Not again...

[Steve Hatle]

On 2/1/03 5:28 PM, "Dave McGuire" <mcguire at neurotica.com> wrote:

> 
>  So they knew they had problems and just had to come down anyway?  I
> don't buy it.  They could've gone to ISS and hung out there and awaited
> another ride home.  Sure, a difficult proposition, but better than
> losing the ship and crew.
> 
>         -Dave

I'm no engineer, but I remember enough orbital mechanics from college
physics to know it's not that easy. Just because the orbiter was in orbit,
and the IIS was in orbit doesn't mean that it's practical to "just go
there". Even if they were in similar orbits, the differing velocities,
orbital positions, and fuel considerations would probably make it darn near
impossible.

According to CNN this afternoon, this being the oldest orbiter, it was also
the heaviest. It could only make ISS orbit with limited payload anyway.

ISS probably doesn't have enough reserves (food, air regeneration, water) to
support 7 additional crew for any length of time, either.

At the same time, too bad that it couldn't have been that easy.

Steve