From: BrianT@cup.portal.com (Brian Stuart Thorn)
Newsgroups: sci.space
Subject: Re: DC vs Shuttle capabilities
Date: Wed, 23 Dec 92 20:18:15 PST
Organization: The Portal System (TM)
  <ewright.724956784@convex.convex.com> <zms23rp@rpi.edu>
  <ewright.725062372@convex.convex.com>
  <keithley-221292165015@kip2-37.apple.com>
  <ewright.725126833@convex.convex.com>

>In <keithley-221292165015@kip2-37.apple.com> keithley@apple.com (Craig Keithle
y
>) writes:
>
>>   What if we don't accept your points, don't want to follow you (blindly)
>>and and don't want you to redistribute the $$$ in a way we disagree with?
>
>We'll do the job anyway, so that a couple decades from now, while
>you watch the 6:15 to orbit, you can lie to your grandkids and say,
>"I knew it was a good idea all along."
>
>
>>        Lets see a straw man proposal that clearly indicates (using the
>>published Shuttle schedule for the next few years)...
>
>In other words, let's take NASA's word that it can follow a
>published schedule it has never been able to follow before.
>
>And while we're at it, let's pretend that all the safety problems
>uncovered before and after the Challenger crash have been solved.
>Let's pretend that there will never be another Shuttle, that Congress
>won't shut down the Shuttle program for at least another two years
>(and perhaps forever) when there *is* another Shuttle crash, and
>that the Shuttle orbiters will last longer than their 100-mission
>design life as NASA is now saying (although the engineers who work
>on them say 25-to-50 missions is more realistic).

     And just how well has Titan IV, Atlas II, or Ariane held
     to the schedule? All have had major headaches from time
     to time (with two being presently so afflicted).
     I have no illusions about the Shuttle's record, but I
     object to those who say these problems will not occur on
     DC-whatever, which happens frequently here.
          
     
>>   If the Shuttle "detractors" wish, produce a schedule that replaces every
>>Shuttle flight starting with the next one.  This would used purely as a
>>center for discussion, because it would have to ignore the political
>>realities with cancelling the shuttle *today*.
>
>And let's see you show how continuing the Shuttle program will lead
>to real space development.  When does your flight schedule allow
>for a *real* space station.  Not a trivial, insignificant nothing
>like SS Freedom, but a modest-sized station (say 50 people) initially,
>capable of growing to 500 or more over the following decade.  A return
>to the Moon and the establishment of a self-sustaining lunar colony.
>Manned missions to Mars, the asteroid belt, and beyond?  The construction
>of *big* orbital telescopes, which make Hubble look like a toy.  Large
>numbers of unmanned "sailing ships" to probe every part of the solar
>system.  A manned station in polar orbit for meteorological research.
>Space tourism.  Space manufacturing.  Solar power satellites.

  I sure hope DC-whatever will do this, but I think its a matter of
  decades away using any approach presently in the works. Maybe a
  Space DC-3 or 4, but not Shuttle or DC-1.
  
>A true space transportation system would make all these things possible.
>Since you demand that we show "a long term vision," you must believe
>the Shuttle can also.  Please tell us when these flights are planned.

  Again, no illusions about the Shuttle. It's the best we have right now.
  Whether DC-1 will probe to be THE Space Transportation System
  (where have I heard THAT before) is another matter. You seem to believe
  that we think Shuttle is the best thing since sliced bread. We, on
  the other hand believe the same of you and DC. In reality, we're saying
  "sounds like a good idea, but until you have something flying we'll
  stick with the Shuttle, thanks." I don't call that being closed-minded,
  I call that good horse-sense.
  
  -Brian
    
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Brian S. Thorn                                    "If ignorance is bliss,
BrianT@cup.portal.com                               this must be heaven."
                                                -Diane Chambers, "Cheers"
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