On Tue, Feb 18, 2003 at 01:01:42PM -0500, Henry Spencer wrote: > On Tue, 18 Feb 2003, Buddha Buck wrote: > > > that's slack time for all of the ground crew except the guy driving the > > > transporter, > > > > I) Why does the transporter need a driver? It seems to me that some > > current-day robotic technologies would do a decent job of seeking a > > transponder on the ship... > > A driver is cheaper, and better able to cope with unexpected difficulties > (a blown tire, debris on the taxiway, etc.). > > > II) Why does this need to be slack time for the ground crew? They could > > be a) performing an inspection of the ship while in transit... > > The areas that need inspection are likely to be mostly on the exterior, > which will be awkward to inspect while in transit. > > > b) prepping the service area/launch stand... > > Possible, to the extend that it needs prepping. > > > c) servicing another ship in the next > > launch platform down the launch field. > > Only if they're not needed for post-touchdown work before the move. > If they have to do things both before and after the move, it's unlikely > to be practical to have them go work on another ship during it. >
As a side issue, how hot is the vehicle going to be when it lands? Will it need time to cool down? -- Jim Richardson http://www.eskimo.com/~warlock A bad day, is when aliens attack, the dog bites you, and your boss tells you that the new client wants to make a few changes before delivery. Linux, super computers, office computers, or home computers, it works. _______________________________________________ ERPS-list mailing list [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://lists.erps.org/mailman/listinfo/erps-list
