On Dec 22, 2:24*am, "Brian Gaff" wrote:
The problem with the progress idea is pressurisation. I do not think there
are facilities to unpressurise it on orbit unless its connected to a docking
port.

It kind of makes it hard to dock a Progress or a Soyuz to a stranded
shuttle orbiter when they use two different types of docking
mechanisms. Rigging up tethers to an unmanned vehicle, never mind
depressurizing it are the least of the problems to consider in this
scenario. As Jorge has pointed out, launching a Progress or a Soyuz
down into a 28.5 degree inclination and at the Hubble altitude is well
out of the Soyuz launcher's capability.
-Mike