"Jorge R. Frank" wrote:
In the current ISS configuration, there is no place the SSRMS could hold
the stranded shuttle to get it completely out of the way of the rescue
shuttle without causing major control difficulties for ISS.

Isn't the whole architecture designed to make it easy to add additional
grapple points on the station ?

In *no* configuration of ISS is there a place where the SSRMS could hold
the stranded shuttle and still withstand plume impingement and docking
loads from the rescue shuttle.


I can understand plume impingement for the thin solar arrays. But franckly, is
this really a valid argument for a tile equipped shuttle being held by the arm
?

There is no ground commanding capability for the docking mechanism, nor is
there commanding capability for the post-contact thrusting required to trip
the capture latches.

If there is a data connection via the SSRMS, then couldn't the station send
the commands tyo trigger the locking motors ?

And if the shuttle is held by the SSRMS, can't the SSRMS provide the
equivalent of post contact thrusting to trip the latches ?

The SSRMS is capable of transmitting small amounts of
power, but the level of power required to allow an automated shuttle re-
docking is beyond the design limits.

All that is needed is keepalive power, as well as driving the docking motors.
The SSMR is the one who would perform the docking, no need to use shuttle's thrusters.

There are, at least in theory, 23 days to salvage parts from the damaged
shuttle before its consumables are depleted.

But wouldn't the point be to have the rescue shuttle bring the spare parts to
fix the broken shuttle ?

What about just letting shuttle go a day or two before the rescue one arrives,
and then the rescue shuttle could still approach the damaged one to EVA to it
and fix whatever is needed ?