Why can't the space shuttle change orbits?
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!
You can leave an optional "tip" with Mahalo's virtual currency, Mahalo Dollars. If you are asking a difficult question that might require some research, or if you'd like a wide variety of feedback, a higher tip often leads to more answers to your question.
M$3 Answers
The shuttle (or any orbiting craft) is launched in a manner to place it in it's final orbit. That orbit is set at an inclination (angle to the earth) and an altitude.
The shuttle cannot carry enough fuel to completely change it's inclination and chase down the ISS.
See video here:
http://tr.youtube.com/watch?v=cHrPdqjw_5s&feature=PlayList&p=9A8A8729442E2A8E&index=19
You'd have to change inclination, altitude, speed...pretty much everything about your trajectory except it's West-East direction.
It would be quite a chase. You'd need to rotate the shuttle, hook up giant tanks, and burn, burn, burn.
http://heavens-above.com can show you orbit info like this:
You can leave an optional "tip" with Mahalo's virtual currency, Mahalo Dollars. If you are asking a difficult question that might require some research, or if you'd like a wide variety of feedback, a higher tip often leads to more answers to your question.
M$
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.
You can leave an optional "tip" with Mahalo's virtual currency, Mahalo Dollars. If you are asking a difficult question that might require some research, or if you'd like a wide variety of feedback, a higher tip often leads to more answers to your question.
M$
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.
You can leave an optional "tip" with Mahalo's virtual currency, Mahalo Dollars. If you are asking a difficult question that might require some research, or if you'd like a wide variety of feedback, a higher tip often leads to more answers to your question.
M$
Spot on. Very nice answer.