Posts: 1047
From: Messina, Sicilia, Italia
Registered: Jun 2004

posted 07-26-2006 09:52 AM               

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In 1983 the ascent cabin of Apollo-9 LM was still in orbit,correct? Well, just imagine that...

http://img109.imageshack.us/img109/2889/challengerspiderrk4.jpg
http://img87.imageshack.us/img87/5206/sts7patchve3.jpg

[This message has been edited by collectSPACE Admin (edited July 26, 2006).]

Posts: 1896
From: Cape Canaveral, FL
Registered: May 2000

Posts: 194
From: Citrus Heights, CA - USA
Registered: Jan 2006

posted 07-26-2006 12:36 PM               

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Carmelo,

That would have been a pretty neat idea, but I'm sure that had the Spider ascent stage still been up there NASA wouldn't have been able to retreive it since it didn't have the needed attachment for the shuttle's arm to grab it. NASA may have decided it wasn't worth devising something to retreive it. It would have ultimately gone the same way as Skylab (remember NASA's plan to save it with the space shuttle?) & possibly Hubble Space Telescope also.

Bill

Posts: 1217
From: Huntsville, AL, USA
Registered: Jun 2003

posted 07-26-2006 01:12 PM               

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I'm wondering also whether there would have been a safety issue with LM fuel, but am too lazy to look it up.

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