Message-ID: <3626@utzoo.UUCP>
Date: Mon, 12-Mar-84 11:55:08 EST
Article-I.D.: utzoo.3626
Posted: Mon Mar 12 11:55:08 1984
Date-Received: Mon, 12-Mar-84 11:55:08 EST
References: <2578@rabbit.UUCP> <386@ihlts.UUCP>, <2350@allegra.UUCP>
Organization: U of Toronto Zoology
Lines: 23

*

re: Cringing over wasted shuttle payload space

   Hmm. I agree, it'd be a shame for the shuttle to go up with less than a 
full load, considering how much money it costs to launch the thing.
However, it's possible for the thing to look half-empty, and yet be loaded
to capacity. The shuttle has both mass and volume constraints
on its payload; perhaps on the mission you refer to, they were carrying
something relatively small and dense, leaving empty room in the cargo bay,
even though the mass allowance had been exhausted. In that case, they
could have carried up extra payload, providing that it had the density
of styrofoam...
...or, perhaps not. Many scientific payloads contain perishable components,
and so can't be launched at a moment's notice (or even 6 months' notice).
If there are no small payloads available a year or so in advance,
when the manifests are being finalized, the shuttle may end up taking off
even though it has space (and mass allowance) to spare. Perhaps it'll be
on missions like that, that non-NASA personnel will fly as supercargo,
as "Payloads of opportunity".

-Kieran A. Carroll
...decvax!utzoo!kcarroll