Why do we use the shuttle at all?

The hurricane Ernesto and its consequences for the Shuttle launch to be done yet these days is an example for a case where air launch or sea launch of lighter parts of a complete structure would have advantages over the conventional method. The parts could be assembled in-space.

If an air launch would have been done the parts would have been in orbit since sunday because the air craft launching the part(s) simply would have flown away from Florida and launched the part.

The airplane could have done several launches since sunday - part by part until all the parts the structure consists of are in space. The structure could have been inflatable I suppose.

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Please keep in mind - until yesterday there was the risk that the Shuttle couldn't launch until the launch window closes...



Dipl.-Volkswirt (bdvb) Augustin (Political Economist)