Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.2 9/5/84; site mordor.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!mhuxr!mhuxt!houxm!mtuxo!mtunh!mtung!mtunf!ariel!vax135!cornell!uw-beaver!tektronix!hplabs!qantel!dual!lll-crg!mordor!@S1-A.ARPA,@MIT-MC.ARPA:jim@TYCHO.ARPA From: @S1-A.ARPA,@MIT-MC.ARPA:jim@TYCHO.ARPA Newsgroups: net.space Subject: Shuttle Comps etc Message-ID: <2558@mordor.UUCP> Date: Mon, 8-Jul-85 16:48:55 EDT Article-I.D.: mordor.2558 Posted: Mon Jul 8 16:48:55 1985 Date-Received: Sat, 13-Jul-85 12:18:13 EDT Sender: daemon@mordor.UUCP Lines: 21 From: jim@TYCHO.ARPA (James B. Houser) Hi Thanx for the numerous replies on my question about the STS computers. Those beasties are really grotesque!! A number of people mentioned rumors of a plan to upgrade the system but no concrete pointer emerged from the discussion. Any words from NASA types out there? There were also a lot of interesting responses to the "money to burn" interstellar probe thought experiment. The general consensus seemed to be that it could not be done given the design constraints or if so just barely. Most people proposed a laser driven light sail propulsion system though several other ideas were suggested too. What would happen if we applied these same ideas to designing a fast and simple probe to Pluto/Charon? Any thoughts? Jim Houser (jim@tycho) -------