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From: jcp@BRL-TGR.ARPA
Newsgroups: net.space
Subject: Palapa Recovery Techniques
Message-ID: <11844@sri-arpa.UUCP>
Date: Mon, 29-Oct-84 20:31:11 EST
Article-I.D.: sri-arpa.11844
Posted: Mon Oct 29 20:31:11 1984
Date-Received: Mon, 5-Nov-84 07:54:00 EST
Lines: 16

From:      Joe Pistritto 

	Yes, the attitude control thrusters will be used to de-spin
the Palapa satellite and its lost brother.  As a matter of fact, this
has already been accomplished, I believe.  The thrusters will be
of course, deactivated from performing ANY control functions when
the orbiter approaches the satellites.  The spin rate at contact will
be 1 RPM or less.  (IT can't be zero, or the satellites would start
pitching around, etc. and would require constant thruster firings to
maintain a stable attitude).  The remaining spin will be killed by
the astronaut after he has grappled the satellite.  Note that the
astronaut will approach from along the spin axis this time, inserting
an expandable probe into the solid rocket motor nozzle of the satellite.
(Yes, NASA DOES learn from its almost-mistakes, (ie. Solar Max))

							-JCP-