After this past weekend's damage to the external fuel tank due to
hailstorm, I was wondering why the shuttle sits out on the launch pad
for so long before launch?

After this past weekend's damage to the external fuel tank due to
hailstorm, I was wondering why the shuttle sits out on the launch pad
for so long before launch?

Kieran.M.Ke...@gmail.com> wrote in message

news:1172606550.286692.40540@t69g2000cwt.googlegroups.com...

After this past weekend's damage to the external fuel tank due to
hailstorm, I was wondering why the shuttle sits out on the launch pad
for so long before launch?

Good question. I think the Russians keep the Soyuz in a hanger and take it
to the launch pad the morning of the launch. But in the US it is
"impossible" to do this much work in a day.

Danny

On Feb 27, 3:55 pm, "Danny Deger" <dannyde...@hotmail.com> wrote:
Kieran.M.Ke...@gmail.com> wrote in message

news:1172606550.286692.40540@t69g2000cwt.googlegroups.com...

After this past weekend's damage to the external fuel tank due to
hailstorm, I was wondering why the shuttle sits out on the launch pad
for so long before launch?

Good question. I think the Russians keep the Soyuz in a hanger and take
it
to the launch pad the morning of the launch. But in the US it is
"impossible" to do this much work in a day.

Danny

Hardly, based on the slew of PR photos I've seen of ISS crews standing
by their Soyuz rocket, days before launch.

True a Soyuz spends a lot
less time on the pad than Shuttle, but these are two totally different
vehicles.

In sci.space.shuttle message <45e49ab1$0$1429$4c368faf@roadrunner.com>,
Tue, 27 Feb 2007 14:55:13, Danny Deger <dannydeger@hotmail.com> posted:
Kieran.M.Kelly@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:1172606550.286692.40540@t69g2000cwt.googlegroups.com...
After this past weekend's damage to the external fuel tank due to
hailstorm, I was wondering why the shuttle sits out on the launch pad
for so long before launch?

Good question. I think the Russians keep the Soyuz in a hanger and take it
to the launch pad the morning of the launch. But in the US it is
"impossible" to do this much work in a day.

I wonder how much NASA has cost the Florida tourist, etc., trade over
the years, by publicising what the Florida weather can do?

Now if there were four (or more) *large* triangles, like the sides of an
Egyptian Pyramid but taller, hinged to the ground at the bottom, they
could swing up to provide something like a rigid bell tent and protect
STS+tower up to almost launch time.

On Wed, 28 Feb 2007 17:58:28 +0000, Dr J R Stockton
reply0709@merlyn.demon.co.uk> puked:

In sci.space.shuttle message <45e49ab1$0$1429$4c368faf@roadrunner.com>,
Tue, 27 Feb 2007 14:55:13, Danny Deger <dannydeger@hotmail.com> posted:
Kieran.M.Kelly@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:1172606550.286692.40540@t69g2000cwt.googlegroups.com...
After this past weekend's damage to the external fuel tank due to
hailstorm, I was wondering why the shuttle sits out on the launch pad
for so long before launch?

Good question. I think the Russians keep the Soyuz in a hanger and take
it
to the launch pad the morning of the launch. But in the US it is
"impossible" to do this much work in a day.

I wonder how much NASA has cost the Florida tourist, etc., trade over
the years, by publicising what the Florida weather can do?

Think of all the tourism they have increased with the multiple false
alarm launch dates...

Dr J R Stockton wrote:
[...]
Now if there were four (or more) *large* triangles, like the sides of an
Egyptian Pyramid but taller, hinged to the ground at the bottom, they
could swing up to provide something like a rigid bell tent and protect
STS+tower up to almost launch time.

And they'd be pretty significant engineering marvels in their own
right. Even made out of plastics, triangles that large would have a
lot of weight, and be tricky to keep rigid without significant
framework. The hydralics to swing them up would be pretty impressive,
too!

In sci.space.shuttle message
45e49ab1$0$1429$4c368faf@roadrunner.com>, Tue, 27 Feb 2007 14:55:13,
Danny Deger <dannydeger@hotmail.com> posted:
Kieran.M.Kelly@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:1172606550.286692.40540@t69g2000cwt.googlegroups.com...
After this past weekend's damage to the external fuel tank due to
hailstorm, I was wondering why the shuttle sits out on the launch
pad for so long before launch?

Good question. I think the Russians keep the Soyuz in a hanger and
take it to the launch pad the morning of the launch. But in the US it
is "impossible" to do this much work in a day.

I wonder how much NASA has cost the Florida tourist, etc., trade over
the years, by publicising what the Florida weather can do?

Now if there were four (or more) *large* triangles, like the sides of
an Egyptian Pyramid but taller, hinged to the ground at the bottom,
they could swing up to provide something like a rigid bell tent and
protect STS+tower up to almost launch time.

At least, the Tank and Orbiter should have covers on/over their upper
surfaces, including OMS and wing/tail leading edged, as protection
against impact by natural or man-made falling objects and removed not
so long before launch.

Dr J R Stockton wrote:
[...]
Now if there were four (or more) *large* triangles, like the sides of an
Egyptian Pyramid but taller, hinged to the ground at the bottom, they
could swing up to provide something like a rigid bell tent and protect
STS+tower up to almost launch time.

And they'd be pretty significant engineering marvels in their own
right. Even made out of plastics, triangles that large would have a
lot of weight, and be tricky to keep rigid without significant
framework. The hydralics to swing them up would be pretty impressive,
too!

"snidely" <Snidely....@gmail.com> wrote:

Dr J R Stockton wrote:
[...]
Now if there were four (or more) *large* triangles, like the sides of an
Egyptian Pyramid but taller, hinged to the ground at the bottom, they
could swing up to provide something like a rigid bell tent and protect
STS+tower up to almost launch time.

And they'd be pretty significant engineering marvels in their own
right.  Even made out of plastics, triangles that large would have a
lot of weight, and be tricky to keep rigid without significant
framework.  The hydralics to swing them up would be pretty impressive,
too!

Not to mention the bracing to make them resistant to the wind...

D.
--
Touch-twice life. Eat. Drink. Laugh.

-Resolved: To be more temperate in my postings.
Oct 5th, 2004 JDL

"snidely" <Snidely.too@gmail.com> wrote:
Dr J R Stockton wrote:
[...]
Now if there were four (or more) *large* triangles, like the sides of an
Egyptian Pyramid but taller, hinged to the ground at the bottom, they
could swing up to provide something like a rigid bell tent and protect
STS+tower up to almost launch time.

And they'd be pretty significant engineering marvels in their own
right. Even made out of plastics, triangles that large would have a
lot of weight, and be tricky to keep rigid without significant
framework. The hydralics to swing them up would be pretty impressive,
too!

Not to mention the bracing to make them resistant to the wind...

Dr J R Stockton <reply0709@merlyn.demon.co.uk> wrote in
news:uEQeU3eELc5FFwDh@invalid.uk.co.demon.merlyn.invalid:

Great idea! We can call it, say, the Rotating Service Structure. RSS for
short. <Guinness>Brilliant!</Guinness

Did see Echostar 6 launch as a VIP:) from a building 2 miles away.

It was AWESOME!