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M$1 May 21, 2009 03:37 AM

Why can't the space shuttle change orbits?

This last trip to Hubble is at an orbit higher than the International Space Station, and NASA kept a second shuttle ready in case a rescue mission was needed, since the shuttle "can not reach the ISS at its lower orbit." -What is the barrier to a spacecraft changing orbits? Is this impossible, or just not possible with the Shuttle, like is it an issue of not carrying enough fuel, or is it a limitation of orbital mechanics, or WHAT?

Theoretically, what would it take, for a spacecraft at Hubble's orbit to be able to move to a lower orbit (like to where the ISS orbits) if this is even possible?

One last request: If you actually do not know the answer to this question, PLEASE DO NOT ANSWER. I'm not interested people's guesses! I just want to know from somebody who knows!
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May 21, 2009 04:14 AM
Two completely different orbits. Different speeds. Different inclinations.

The shuttle (or any orbiting craft) is launched in a manner to place it in it's final orbit. That orbit is set at an inclination (angle to the earth) and an altitude.

The shuttle cannot carry enough fuel to completely change it's inclination and chase down the ISS.

See video here:
http://tr.youtube.com/watch?v=cHrPdqjw_5s&feature=PlayList&p=9A8A8729442E2A8E&index=19

You'd have to change inclination, altitude, speed...pretty much everything about your trajectory except it's West-East direction.

It would be quite a chase. You'd need to rotate the shuttle, hook up giant tanks, and burn, burn, burn.

http://heavens-above.com can show you orbit info like this:
http://rsrvd.com/mahalopix/ma-orbit-HST.jpg
http://rsrvd.com/mahalopix/ma-orbit-ISS.jpg
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May 21, 2009 05:12 AM
Spot on. Very nice answer.

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May 21, 2009 03:51 AM
Fuel would be a major issue.

Each pound of weight costs thousands of dollars to lift into space (making the entire shuttle program horribly inneficient, but that's another story). Carrying extra fuel to change orbits means not just carrying the fuel to change orbits, but the fuel to carry that fuel into orbit.

It's also a question of launch trajectory.

In many ways the space shuttle is very basic technology (compared to the stuff of science fiction), it's ability to maneuver is limited.

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May 21, 2009 07:01 AM
When an object such as a space station or telescope is put into orbit many factors are involved in determining what it's trajectory and orbit are going to be. For the Hubble when it was put into orbit it didn't have a set trajectory for almost 3 years. It was based on its PoV for our solar system. The Hubble spacecraft has enough fuel to make course corrections and minute adjustments based on a timetable and set schedule, Its orbit is not fixed for all time and it is constantly being changed and adjusted. The orbit height is based on what the function of the craft is, for Hubble it was as I said put into orbit high enough where ozone, light pollution and surface glare wouldn't effect the visibility of objects in our solar system. Since its launch in april of 1990 the telescope's orbit has in fact been changed/corrected in every one of its 5 servicing missions to better optimize view of our visible universe.
The reason the shuttle(s) had to go to the Hubble telescope and not the
other way around was simply because the telescope HAS a set trajectory and is far more time consuming and less practical to move the Hubble to us as opposed to launching a small manned spacecraft to it.

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