From: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Subject: [ERPS] Re: Columbia
Date: Mon, 3 Feb 2003 11:05:57 EST
Gentlefolk,
With the caveat that it's still early in the investigation, I've taken a stab
at anticipating some of what might eventually be done in response to the
disaster. Some of these, I realize, will be a politically unpalatable goring
of sacred cows within NASA and perhaps wishful thinking. Omitted, for lack
of information so far, are any highly technical recommendations with respect
to tile adhesion, etc.
(Also omitted are any security measures. However, in the back of my mind
is the possibility of a small bomb planted in the left wheel well. Not only
were we flying an Israeli astronaut, but one who'd taken part in the
preemptive Israeli bombing of an Iraqi reactor some time ago. The bomb could
have been placed there months ago, waiting for vacuum to arm it and
acceleration to trigger it. The biggest argument against such sabotage at
this time is only that nobody has taken credit for it.)
Anyway, some of these are going to seem draconian, but government's
tendency is to underreact to warnings and overreact to events:
A. Conserve remaining shuttles.
1. Experiments that can be done on the ISS, should be done on the ISS. No
more shuttle-only science flights.
2. Use the ISS to get more space time per launch with longer stays and larger
crews on the ISS.
3. Increase use of Russian ferry assets.
B. Improve Shuttle operational safety.
1. Fly the Shuttle only to the ISS.
2. Implement full visual inspection of Shuttles before reentry with
contingency plans for ISS repair of tile damage.
3. (If cold proves contributor to launch debris impact damage) Plan no
Shuttle launches for Jan-Feb. Increase minimum launch temperature.
4. Look at shallower Sanger-type one-skip reentry glide path with
abort-to-orbit capability.
C. Design changes to shuttle.
1. Spectra fiber net glued over ET on Shuttle side.
2. Bellycam (a rear pointed diamond-window blister the size of shoe box under
the nose, perhaps on the nose landing gear door).
3. Add the ability to transfer of OMS propellant from shuttle to shuttle, or
from tanks to Shuttle, while in orbit (to go with abort to orbit capability).
D. Major effort to quickly develop alternative astronaut space access
systems. Do all three of these; 1 should be doable in less than a year.
Proceeding on 2 and 3 should result in one largely reusable system that
should be available in two years.
1. Interim: Revive/modernize the Apollo capsule and mate it with Atlas IV
and/or ArianeV and/or Russian boosters. Note: it wouldn't need a moon-mission
sized service module.
2. Complete DCX development. (Start from existing baseline, KISS, use Castors
if needed)
3. Complete Roton development. (Start from existing baseline, KISS, use
Castors if needed)
F. Funding reductions to free up money.
1. End air-breathing space efforts (NASA and Military) (too expensive and
theoretically unsound).
2. End all air breathing hypersonic/supersonic transport efforts (no market).
3. End all military "aerospace plane" efforts. (need can be deferred)
4. Postpone robotic space exploration launches until cheaper launch vehicles
and more capable upper stages are available (except the orbital
dynamics-constrained Pluto mission).
--Best, Gerald
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