Orion Capsules tested on shuttle flights?

If they extend the shuttle program; would it be possible to ferry
orion capsules up and practice on-orbit activities and reentry before
the ares rocket is available?

On Fri, 29 Aug 2008 16:08:57 -0700 (PDT), "
wrote:

If they extend the shuttle program; would it be possible to ferry
orion capsules up and practice on-orbit activities and reentry before
the ares rocket is available?

No, Orion diameter is a few feet greater than the Shuttle's payload
bay. It won't fit.

Brian

On Aug 29, 6:17 pm, Brian Thorn wrote:
On Fri, 29 Aug 2008 16:08:57 -0700 (PDT), "

wrote:
If they extend the shuttle program; would it be possible to ferry
orion capsules up and practice on-orbit activities and reentry before
the ares rocket is available?

No, Orion diameter is a few feet greater than the Shuttle's payload
bay. It won't fit.

Brian

what about lengthwise? is the top-to-bottom depth wider than the cargo
bay? I thought I read one time that the cargo bay was made slighly
narrow than the apollo capsule so they wouldnt be able to use them.

wrote:
On Aug 29, 6:17 pm, Brian Thorn wrote:
On Fri, 29 Aug 2008 16:08:57 -0700 (PDT), "

wrote:
If they extend the shuttle program; would it be possible to ferry
orion capsules up and practice on-orbit activities and reentry before
the ares rocket is available?
No, Orion diameter is a few feet greater than the Shuttle's payload
bay. It won't fit.

Brian

what about lengthwise? is the top-to-bottom depth wider than the cargo
bay?

No matter which way you orient an Orion, it will not fit in the bay.

I thought I read one time that the cargo bay was made slighly
narrow than the apollo capsule so they wouldnt be able to use them.

Incorrect.

On Fri, 29 Aug 2008 18:33:00 -0700 (PDT), "
wrote:


No, Orion diameter is a few feet greater than the Shuttle's payload
bay. It won't fit.

I thought I read one time that the cargo bay was made slighly
narrow than the apollo capsule so they wouldnt be able to use them.

Apollo: 13 ft dia.
Shuttle: 15 ft. dia. payload bay
Orion: 16.6 ft dia.

Brian

"Brian Thorn" wrote in message
...
On Fri, 29 Aug 2008 18:33:00 -0700 (PDT), "
wrote:


No, Orion diameter is a few feet greater than the Shuttle's payload
bay. It won't fit.

I thought I read one time that the cargo bay was made slighly
narrow than the apollo capsule so they wouldnt be able to use them.

Apollo: 13 ft dia.
Shuttle: 15 ft. dia. payload bay
Orion: 16.6 ft dia.

Brian

Perfect diameter for the Delta IV Heavy.

No, I think is the short answer. The fact is you would need to have th
service module with you, and there seems to be a size mismatch...

Brian

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wrote in message
...
If they extend the shuttle program; would it be possible to ferry
orion capsules up and practice on-orbit activities and reentry before
the ares rocket is available?

Jorge R. Frank wrote:

No matter which way you orient an Orion, it will not fit in the bay.

Even if you use a big hammer to "reshape" the orion capsule to fit ? :-)


What if you do like most drivers carrying a bigger load do: put it in
the trunk anyways, and just not close the trunk door completely ?

So, they stick the orion capsule in the payload bay, leave the payload
bay doors partially opened, and use bungy cords to hold the doors during
launch ? (ok, perhaps add a canvas shroud to help with aerodynamics).

Once the capsule is released, they can then close the doors properly and
re-enter normally :-)



Seriously though, could they have designed an orion capsule to fit in
the payload pay AND maintain roughly the same capacity ? Or were they
absolutely required to make its diameter larger than payload pay in
order to fit the 6 people ?

On Aug 30, 1:05 pm, John Doe wrote:
Jorge R. Frank wrote:
No matter which way you orient an Orion, it will not fit in the bay.

Even if you use a big hammer to "reshape" the orion capsule to fit ? :-)

What if you do like most drivers carrying a bigger load do: put it in
the trunk anyways, and just not close the trunk door completely ?

So, they stick the orion capsule in the payload bay, leave the payload
bay doors partially opened, and use bungy cords to hold the doors during
launch ? (ok, perhaps add a canvas shroud to help with aerodynamics).

Once the capsule is released, they can then close the doors properly and
re-enter normally :-)

Seriously though, could they have designed an orion capsule to fit in
the payload pay AND maintain roughly the same capacity ? Or were they
absolutely required to make its diameter larger than payload pay in
order to fit the 6 people ?

cant leave the doors open for launch. too fragile and lined with
radiator tubing. would make for a short flight without any coolant for
the avionics.

On Aug 30, 2:05*pm, John Doe wrote:


Seriously though, could they have designed an orion capsule to fit in
the payload pay AND maintain roughly the same capacity ? Or were they
absolutely required to make its diameter larger than payload pay in
order to fit the 6 people ?

There is no need to carry an Orion on the shuttle. It was never a
design consideration. EELV's could launch it