From: strider@clotho.acm.rpi.edu (Greg Moore)
Subject: Re: Pilots must be stupid? (Re: DC vs Shuttle capabilities
Organization: The Voice of Fate
Date: Thu, 24 Dec 1992 04:06:28 GMT

In article <ewright.725130175@convex.convex.com> ewright@convex.com (Edward V. Wright) writes:
>In <gjt2v-d@rpi.edu> strider@clotho.acm.rpi.edu (Greg Moore) writes:
>
>>>You can walk from one place to another carrying a four-ton
>>>cargo container?  On Earth?  I doubt it.
>
>>	Carry it while walking? no, but I can drive it.
>
>If you have a flat tire?
>
	I think I never made my original point clear enough, though
Hnery did later elaborate on it.  On earth you have friction and gravity
that aid in controlling the movement of objects (granted, they also do
create some problems).

>See, for every "greater difficulty" you can think of in
>space, I can think of one on Earth.
>
	Gee, good for you.

	Now, since it has been made clear to me that a DC-1 will
have a docking capability, (and as I already assumed, a RMS could
and probably will be built) I withdraw my objections.  But, if you
wish to pick nits, go right ahead.  I'm going on vacation.

>
>>	Again, I think I see were we are differing.  See my other
>>post on timeframes.  But to recap, I agree, after a couple thousand
>>more hours of EVA time, we'll have a lot more down.
>
>If the cost of putting one man into space was $50,000, instead
>of $5,000,000, you'd be able to rack up a thousand man-hours
>of EVA time pretty fast.
>
	And I don't argue with that.  That's why I support DC-X.
It's also why I support NASA's decision to increase the number of
EVA's on upcoming flights.  Granted, shuttle flights are expensive,
but since they are the only manned access we have right now (until
DC-1 or whatever comes on line), we might as well make use of it.
It adds to the database of experience.

>
>>A diver can swim back.  Or, with enough air (which they should
>>always have) resurface.  
>
>Not if they're SEALs in a combat zone.  Or cave divers.  Or
>under ice.  Or working in an underground sewer system.  All 
>of which are done routinely today.
>
	What can't be done? Swimming back? or planning on having
enough air?  I don't know a single cave diver who doesn't make sure
she has a way out and enough air to get back (plus a healthy reserve).
Besides, this is a nit pick.  It does nothing to dispute my claim
that an astronaut who "floats" away can have more serious problems.

>
>>>What makes you think a DC-1 can't accomplish a hard docking.
>>>
>>	I wasn't aware that it could.  This I understand would
>>have to be an added capability?  HOw does it dock? through the
>>nose? or along the side?
>
>The McDAC illustration shows it docked alongside.  I'm sure
>the docking adapter would be an added capability, carried in
>the cargo bay.  Why carry it along on flights where you don't
>need it?  
>
	Makes sense to me.  Shuttle does that, so it would make
even more sense for a cost-effective system like DC-1 to make
every pound count.

>If you consider this a problem, well, the Shuttle's docking
>adapter works the same way. 
>
	I realize that.  Actually, Shuttle's docking 
adapter WILL work taht way... they haven't docked to anything yet.

>
>
>