Asri-unix.1135 net.space utcsrgv!utzoo!decvax!cca!sri-unix!WMARTIN@OFFICE-3 Fri Apr 2 06:22:32 1982 Shuttle future plans From: WMartin at Office-3 (Will Martin) As each new shuttle vehicle is constructed, will it go through a single or series of cargo-less shakedown flight(s)? Or will its initial flight be a production run, carrying cargo? When, if ever, is it scheduled or predicted for there to be more than one shuttle vehicle in orbit at the same time? Will this be some sort of joint flight, where these vehicles are in proximity for some purpose, or will they just happen to be working up there at the same time, and maybe be on opposite sides of the planet? I heartily endorse the concept of a "space channel"; I would for now settle for a shortwave radio broadcast going on constantly covering the audio traffic on the main communications channel between vehicles in flight/orbit and the main control site, Houston or wherever. I would think that the VOA (Voice of America) could score a propaganda coup by such worldwide coverage and it would be at minimal cost -- just tying up a transmitter and antenna (one frequency at a time will suffice) and an audio link out of NASA to the transmitter site. Wouldn't need any announcer or commentary, so that expense could be avoided. It sure seems to be all reward and no disadvantage, as far as I can see. Will Martin ----------------------------------------------------------------- gopher://quux.org/ conversion by John Goerzen of http://communication.ucsd.edu/A-News/ This Usenet Oldnews Archive article may be copied and distributed freely, provided: 1. There is no money collected for the text(s) of the articles. 2. The following notice remains appended to each copy: The Usenet Oldnews Archive: Compilation Copyright (C) 1981, 1996 Bruce Jones, Henry Spencer, David Wiseman.