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Old June 11th 07, 05:11 AM posted to sci.space.shuttle,sci.space.policy
Sylvia Else
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Posts: 1,063
Default Maximum Rate Shuttle Launches

wrote:
Given a few extra billion dollars, and a year or two for preparation,
what sort of sustainable launch rate could the shuttle attain?

-Curious
-Charles Talleyrand


Any "sustainable" launch rate has to take into account the fact that
shuttles get detroyed about once every 50 to 60 flights (based on the
launch history, with its admitted limited statistical signifiance). The
few billion extra dollars, as a one off, gets you nowhere unless the
launch rate is so low that the interest earned by putting money on
deposit is enough to pay for replacement shuttles.

Sylvia.