Brian Thorn ) writes:
On 21 Aug 2005 01:51:51 GMT, (Andre Lieven)
wrote:

What is it about ISS that precludes its operation without Shuttle?

Delivery and removal of tonnage loads of hardware and consumables,
along with significant orbital re-boosts.

Soyuz/Progress cannot do all that.

Soyuz/Progress, ATV, and HTV can, however.

As neither ATV or HTV as yet exist, I will not count on them,
for about the same reason that I won't count on VentureStar or
Hermes.

It's not a perfect solution, of course. Working out a way to send up
replacement CMGs would be a priority. But the ability to get along
without Shuttle seems to me to be simply a matter of money: how many
ATVs are the Europeans willing to pay for. How many more Soyuz or
Progress missions can the Russians scrape up the money for?

And, how will they lift the remaining designed-to-fly-inside-of-
shuttle parts up, without said shuttle ?

Andre

--
" I'm a man... But, I can change... If I have to... I guess. "
The Man Prayer, Red Green.