"Herb Schaltegger" wrote in
message .com...
On Wed, 17 Aug 2005 15:26:12 -0500, alicat5 wrote
(in article .com):

found this taken in May 05:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/zcasper...in/set-338055/

Anybody have insight into what is going on here? It appears the
forward rcs module as detailed he

http://spaceflight.nasa.gov/shuttle/.../sodb/213a.pdf

has removed.


The RCS modules are removed for service after every flight. You'll
note that the rear pods have been removed as well.

Getting rid of the nasty hypergolic propellants is something NASA has wanted
to do for a long, long time. Unfortunately, it's one of the many shuttle
upgrades that never happened. :-(

For a new vehicle, it would be nice to get rid of the hypergolics and go
with something a lot more friendly, so hopefully you don't have to pull the
RCS systems after every flight anymore.

Jeff
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