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Author
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Topic: Orbiter Payload Capability
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Tom
Member Posts: 1597
From: New York
Registered: Nov 2000
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posted 01-15-2006 11:08 AM
   
I have a question regarding the payload capability of the three orbiters, Discovery, Atlantis, and Endeavour.
I was a little confused when NASA decided to switch orbiters for the STS-121 flight.
The main reason being that it would free up Atlantis to launch the heavier truss payload on STS-115.
I guess they were implying that the payload was too heavy for Discovery.
If I remember correctly, didn't Discovery launch one of the heaviest payloads to the ISS, on STS-92? I believe the Z1 Truss / PMA 3 payload weighed around 41,000 lbs.
Trusses previously sent to ISS weighed less than 30,000 lbs when launched on STS-110, 112, and 113.
Also, Columbia which was the heaviest vehicle built, still has the shuttle payload record of 51,000 lbs on STS-93 / Chandra.
Can anyone expalin this?
Thanks.
Tom
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Ben Watson
Member Posts: 24
From: Jackson, MS USA
Registered: Dec 2002
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posted 01-17-2006 04:09 PM
With respect to Columbia, my guess would be that it was able to carry that amount of payload because it likely was not heading for a highly inclined orbit, such as the 52 degree orbit in which the ISS is in. |
OV-105
Member Posts: 816
From: Ridgecrest, CA
Registered: Sep 2000
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posted 01-17-2006 07:40 PM
From an old (1992) Rockwell Reporter's Space Flight Note Pad Here are Orbiter Dry Weights with 3 SSME's
Columbia 178,289 lb.
Discovery 171,419 lb.
Atlantis 171,205 lb.
Endeavour 173,200 lb.
At the time they say for a 57 degree flight 41,000 lb. for 110 nmi orbit. Columbia was 32,600 lb.. For a 28.5 flight 55,000 lb. and for Columbia 46,600 lb.. One thing to remeber on these numbers is that they did not have the Super Light Weight ET which ads more payload. Atlantis is 200lb. lighter than Discovery and is 1,995 lb. lighter than Endeavour. That is all the numbers are right. | |
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