Escape pods for shuttles could extend STS service life

Buranians were right. If descent is too dangerous aboard the shuttle,
an escape pod would make sense. Let the shuttle fly itself home, the
astronauts can get wet.

Did I hear a cakll for a Moose?

Its a early 60 escape pod system proposal. A personal deorbit unit.

(Hallerb) wrote in message ...

Buranians were right. If descent is too dangerous aboard the shuttle,
an escape pod would make sense. Let the shuttle fly itself home, the
astronauts can get wet.

Did I hear a cakll for a Moose?

Its a early 60 escape pod system proposal. A personal deorbit unit.

I don't remember that one. I was thinking along the lines of a
heat-shielded capsule, like Gemini, and everybody just pile in for the
trip down. Human flesh makes a pretty good cushioning device and
being stuffed into a small space in an emergency beats running the
risk of being burned up alive in a damaged descent vehicle.