Space Shuttle with Apollo Telescope Mount ?

[Archibald]

Hello to all.

Title says all... strip Skylab B of its 11 000kg ATM, add a pressurised module from Spacelab, and put that in the shuttle payload bay.
Once in orbit, open the doors, unfold the "treadmill" and there you go, a Shuttle Solar Observatory...
Of course the mission would have happened in the early 80's, not today (ATM is probably very obsolete)

Any interest in such sheme ? What problems would it cause to the orbiter ?

Just curious

 

[Michel Van]

me me me

first problem
fit ATM inside Payload bay of STS ?
ATM has a octagonal structure 3.4 m across and 4.4 m in length
but wat with folded 4 Solarpanel is ATM still 3.4 m across?

Second problem Operation
ATM had to stabilize the entire Skylab !
that 77088 kg but a Space Shuttle is 99318 kg (Include payload)

its better that ATM become Free flyer or put it on Canadarm durnig operation
ATM was orginal planned a Free flyer with LM Ascent module !

Third Problem
wat happen after the mission, how refolded the 4 Solarpanel ?

it better to put ATM with Spacelab or LM Ascent module ! in Orbit
and the Shuttle visit from time to time ATM

so far i know were 2 ATM build for Skylab A and B

http://history.nasa.gov/EP-107/ch4.htm#f91

 

[Archibald]

Thank you as usual for the input, Michel !

Another problem is the shuttle vertical tail. Yes, a free-flyer would be better. With Spacelab small pressurised module.

Then, this http://www.astronautix.com/craft/scitform.htm might be of interest, if only because these studies were led by MArshall, home of Skylab...

He he maybe they could have used the ATM free-flyer to force (foot-on-the-door) Congress giving them a small space station

 

[Michel Van]

Thank you as usual for the input, Michel !

Another problem is the shuttle vertical tail. Yes, a free-flyer would be better. With Spacelab small pressurised module.

He maybe they could have used the ATM free-flyer to force (foot-on-the-door) Congress giving them a small space station

the Shuttle tail is no Problem
put the ATM solar panel like this X and dock shuttle like this | and vertical tail has place

this ATM free-flyer is more like Man-Tended Free-Flying (MTFF) platform
but after 4-5 year is ATM used up (see the end of Skylab)