Space shuttle moved to launch pad as rescue ship

geetrue · 09-19-08, 02:25 PM

I hope they don't need it ... glad they're doing it though.

http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5h...eDT9gD939UTJG0

Quote:

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — In an unprecedented step, a space shuttle was moved to the launch pad Friday for a trip NASA hopes it will never make — a rescue mission. The shuttle Endeavour is on standby in case the seven astronauts who go up on Atlantis next month need a safer ride home.
Atlantis and its crew are headed into space for one last repair job on the 18-year-old Hubble Space Telescope. It's a venture that was canceled when first proposed a few years ago because it was considered too dangerous.
The risk is this: If Atlantis suffers serious damage during launch or in flight, the astronauts will not be at the international space station, where they could take refuge for weeks while awaiting a ride home. They would be stranded on their spacecraft at the Hubble, where NASA estimates they could stay alive for 25 days. Air would be the first to go.
Endeavour and four more astronauts would need to blast off on a rescue flight as soon as NASA determined Atlantis was too damaged to fly home.

Jimbuna · 09-19-08, 02:29 PM

An excellent precautionary measure....hopefullly never needed :hmm:

Task Force · 09-19-08, 10:29 PM

Whats rong with the other shuttle.:hmm:

August · 09-19-08, 11:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Task Force

Whats rong with the other shuttle.:hmm:

Nothing. It's just to reach the Hubble they wouldn't be able to make it to the space station in the event of trouble.

Atlantis is after all almost a quarter century old, there's not too many cars that old still on the road.

Jimbuna · 09-20-08, 05:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by August

Quote:

Originally Posted by Task Force

Whats rong with the other shuttle.:hmm:

Nothing. It's just to reach the Hubble they wouldn't be able to make it to the space station in the event of trouble.

Atlantis is after all almost a quarter century old, there's not too many cars that old still on the road.

Good analogy

Platapus · 09-20-08, 06:50 AM

When it comes to space rescue capability it is better to have it and not need it than to need it and not have it.

Kudos to NASA

I wonder who gave them the idea?

Etienne · 09-20-08, 05:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by August

Atlantis is after all almost a quarter century old, there's not too many cars that old still on the road.

There aren't that many cars that have a dedicated maintenance team.

Ships, planes and apparently reusable spaceship can live well into their twenties.

Heck, I've sailed on a ship that was half 50 years old and half 30! :-D Still runs fine, even if she leaks all over.

Stealth Hunter · 09-19-08, 11:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jimbuna

An excellent precautionary measure....hopefullly never needed :hmm:

Indeed. Makes me glad they thought ahead... unlike several other operative organizations.

09-19-08, 02:29 PM	#2
Jimbuna Chief of the Boat Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: 250 metres below the surface Posts: 190,500 Downloads: 63 Uploads: 13	An excellent precautionary measure....hopefullly never needed :hmm: __________________ Wise men speak because they have something to say; Fools because they have to say something. Oh my God, not again!!

09-19-08, 10:29 PM	#3
Task Force Rear Admiral Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: SPACE!!!! Posts: 10,142 Downloads: 85 Uploads: 0	Whats rong with the other shuttle.:hmm: __________________ Task Force industries "Taking control of the world, one mind at a time"

09-20-08, 06:50 AM	#6
Platapus Fleet Admiral Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 19,361 Downloads: 63 Uploads: 0	When it comes to space rescue capability it is better to have it and not need it than to need it and not have it. Kudos to NASA I wonder who gave them the idea? __________________ abusus non tollit usum - A right should NOT be withheld from people on the basis that some tend to abuse that right.