Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Path: utzoo!kcarroll From: kcarroll@utzoo.UUCP (Kieran A. Carroll) Newsgroups: net.space Subject: Re: Space Station 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