Cable Allows Remote Control Of Landing Gear, Drag Chutes

Aside from storm-related issues, NASA engineers are also still worried about the possibility of foam falling from the huge external fuel tank and damaging the shuttle Discovery -- the same problem that ended up killing Columbia three years ago.

Should such damage be found on Discovery once it reaches the International Space Station, the current plan calls for shuttle astronauts to abandon ship and take refuge aboard the International Space Station.

But what about the shuttle? After all -- while not worth the risk of losing another seven astronauts -- there is no certainty that such damage would result in the loss of another orbiter during reentry... and NASA would certainly like to save its $20 billion shuttle, if at all possible. Under a plan announced last week, NASA has developed a way to potentially return an unmanned shuttle to earth.

The New York Times reports NASA has developed a 28-foot long electrical cable, that when connected allows operation of the orbiter's landing gear and drag parachutes, among other systems. Until about a year ago, those systems were only able to be operated by manual inputs -- but the cable allows the controls to be operated from remote signals sent up from the ground.

In theory, that would allow ground controllers to fly the shuttle by remote... hopefully to a successful landing on terra firma.

The Times reports such a remote landing might be attempted at California's Vandenburg Air Force Base, where the approach to landing would take place over water. The idea has evolved over the past year and is a big change in NASA thinking.

As late as a year ago, NASA officials insisted that a landing without astronauts was impossible... but NASA Spokesman Kyle Herring says if all else fails, and re-entry is just too risky for a manned shuttle... bringing it home on remote might just work.

FMI: www.nasa.gov