On Thu, 24 Jul 2003 00:18:55 GMT, "Greg D. Moore \(Strider\)"
wrote:

"Cardman" wrote in message
.. .

Shuttle-C was designed to move cargo about within orbit, where my
method was to do this though an always in orbit space tug instead.

No, Shuttle-C was a launch vehicle in its various incarnations. Some
returned the SSMEs, some din't.

I see.

Hell you could even use the Shuttle as this space tug provided that
they did a few adjustments. The first is to keep it up there, which
should not be that hard. Then of course it needs cargo canister
handling capability, which it mostly already has.

It would be extremely hard. The Shuttle is not designed for long stays in
orbit.

Yes, but overlooking the tiny space debris, then cannot it be serviced
in orbit?

It's overly massive. It has wings that are useless in orbit, etc.

Sure it has a lot of mass, but all you need is extra energy to move
that mass, where launching 100 tons of cargo can certainly include
lots of fuel.

And I will presume that you can't cut the wings off... ;-]

And so with refueling and maintaining the Shuttle always in orbit,
then you eliminate the cost of making the space tug. And in emergency
situations, then yes the Shuttle can re-enter and land if it cannot go
elsewhere.

Do you have a concept of how much fuel would be required to turn the shuttle
into an useful orbital tug? Far more than it can hold.

I was considering that possibility, where the obvious solution is to
increase its fuel capacity. Turn the cargo bay into fuel storage, or
maybe by some external method.

Well it is all about linking in some extra pipe work to provide extra
fuel, where this should not be a major problem to solve.

The Shuttle is a highly technical machine that needs to be virtually
rebuilt after every launch.

Which leads to the low launch rate which leads to high costs.

Exactly, where a simple rocket system saves all that support work.

All I need are cheap cargo containing strap on tubes, which are
ideally segmented.

Even the less clever people around can see the cost savings involved
with removing a highly technical machine and just launching dumb cargo
cannisters.

The less clever people are missing the fact that it's still expensive.

Yes, but I can only feel that it is better than with now. As like it
or not the life of the Shuttle is coming to an end.

What heavy launch do you plan if not the Shuttle?

Cardman.