/sci/ - Science & Math

>>12799412
reminds me of the other day I had a thought about how I wish in the late80s/early 90s NASA has decided to give the Shuttle-C a try (big ass cargo fairing replaces the shuttle, a pod of three used shuttle engines under it, orange tank and SRBs the same, no modifications needed to the launch pad, etc). I was even thinking, since it was not man-rated and no lives were at risk, for their first shot (instead of wasting it to just hefting boilerplate) they could have launched a great big tank of water into orbit, and with a couple of solar panels on it and a small electrolysis setup feeding a couple of small tanks with O2, and a docking adaptor on the nose, maybe a couple of cases of MRE then suddenly the whole "They are stranded in orbit, will we be able to launch a rescue ship in time, maybe the Russians can save them!?" trope is no more.
I'm starting to think manned-space without the permanent presence of an orbiting water/O2/food emergency re-supply shelter was reckless.