At 12:09 PM 5/30/2008, Ronald Nutter wrote:
How about one step further - Maybe they can "pick up" AO-40 and bring it back for a repair job ?
That would be extremely tricky. I haven't done the sums, but there is a significant difference in velocity between AO-40 at perigee and a LEO. However, the delta-V required would be well beyond the Shuttle's capabilities (Ever seen a Shuttle launched into GTO?). Assuming someone had the money to pay for AO-40's return, you'd require some propulsion unit sent up to slow it down and circularize the orbit (possibly with the assistance of aerobraking over a period of time), before you could organise a Shuttle flight to pick it up. Given the cost and the number of unknowns (like how safe would it be to carry AO-40 back, given we have no idea of its condition except that it's up there somewhere), I'd say the odds of this happening are essentially zero.
Interesting "thought experiment" though. :)
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