re hst servicing mission scheduled for days in article apr samba oit unc edu bruce scott launchpad unc edu bruce scott writes if re boosting the hst by carrying it with a shuttle would not damage it then why couldn t hst be brought back to earth and the repair job done here is it because two shuttle flights would be required adding to the alredy horrendous expense i don t think a reboost exercise is analogous to a shuttle landing launch in terms of stresses misalignments etc i would think of the reboost as a gentile push where a landing then launch as two jolts which would put more mechanical stress on the instruments additionally there might be a concern about landing loads to the shuttle in the event of a laden landing finally probably some thought went into possible contamination problems if the instruments came back to earth of course the cost of two shuttle launches is a good reason to avoid something that might be done in one shuttle launch here s hoping cepi s gang gets the job done right the first time david w gsfc i used to work for frank cepollina
