Re: The Hubble Space Telescope...

On Sun, 30 Nov 2003 00:36:41 GMT, A Hubble Hubble
<[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:

>Given that the FAWG is the only long range planning manifest that I know 
>of, and given that prior to the latest manifest only the first 4 flights 
>were not labelled "Under Review", but now all the flights up through 
>STS-124 (HST SM-4) are not "under review" and given that SM-4 was placed 
>where it is after discussions with the Administrator, I believe this 
>FAWG isn't going to change much (in terms of flight order) in the near 
>future.  

You must not have been around in the post-Challenger return-to-flight
era. There were dozens of launch manifests over those 2 1/2 years, and
the flight order changed repeatedly. Just look at the STS order that
actually flew...

STS-26, 27, 29, 30, 28, 34, 33, 32, 36, 31... all those *before* the
big hydrogen leak fiasco hit in 1990.

Since those STS-numbers were approved by NASA officials at the very
top, this should serve as a warning not to give too much credence to
early return-to-flight launch schedules.

In other words, bank on the FAWG at your own peril.

Brian