Space Forum / Shuttle / September 2005

Europe to Join Russia in Building Next Space Shuttle --ANATOLY ZAK
Fri 19 Aug 05 22:07 1900 GMT // IEEE Spectrum On-Line
http://www.spectrum.ieee.org/WEBONLY/resource/aug05/0805nshut.html
Development agreement takes shape during the Paris Air Show

This may be a bit OT for this group, but I'll ask anyway...  :)
Atmospheric drag causes everything in LEO to eventually
re-enter and burn up, correct? I assume that smaller, denser
items take longer, but the eventuality is always the same.

If it costs $10k to send a pound into LEO orbit,
and if 2000Kg of 'waste' was returned in the last shuttle,
then thats 2000*2.2*10000 = $44 Million US ~ $50M USD
(not factoring in the septic tank here either)

The existing shuttle is due to be retired before long, even if NASA
decides to fly it again at all, and will need to be replaced. Now, I
rather doubt that anyone from NASA will be inviting input from me any
time soon, but I thought it would be interesting to play the game of

If the rebuilding of Michoud required
a drainage system across the deepest portion of New  Orleans could NASA
administer emergency relief. I just love to hear the sound of billions of
dollars under  less trying conditions of course.

There are a lot of hazzards out there, old satellites, rocks, aliens
and space terrorists.
So a modern shuttle does need phasers and quantum torpedoes or it's
doomed !

Quick question... Why lift the insulation on takeoff? As the ET is next
to the gantry, why not have a two part cover that hinges on either side
of the ET. Masses of insulation to keep the ET cold. Then a minute or so
before ignition, move the halves out of the way.

The NASA Michoud Assembly Facility, home of the Saturn V and the
Shuttle's ET, is located just east of New Orleans.  Anyone know how
storm hardened the facility is?

           Former Dutch astronaut improving in hospital
     31 August 2005 (expatica.com)
     AMSTERDAM - The medical condition of former Dutch astronaut Wubbo
Ockels justifies cautious optimism, the Technical University in Delft has

Only President Bush could sell Space Solar Power.
Space Solar Power Home
http://spacesolarpower.nasa.gov/
On many of the Sunday morning news shows the question

I'm going to be in the Cape Canaveral are at the end of Sept. and there
is a rocket launch planned for the time I'll be there.  I'm wondering
if anyone can tell me the best place to go to watch the launch?  If it
makes a difference, it is a nighttime launch.