Trans-Atlantic Abort Question

[lampblack]

Just suppose one of the shuttle orbiters had to do a trans-Atlantic abort and landed in Spain or France -- or <i>somewhere</i> in Europe.<br /><br />I'm remembering that when the orbiter lands at Edwards, the specially modified 747 that ferries it back to KSC has to "hop" across the country. It can't make the flight non-stop, as it has to be refueled along the way due to the extra weight of the orbiter that it is carrying.<br /><br />It is reasonable to assume (I think) that a 747 ferrying an orbiter across the Atlantic Ocean following a TAL abort would also need to be refueled along the way. Of course, this would be somewhat more difficult in open ocean than at an airport in Ohio (or wherever).<br /><br />In-flight refueling isn't an option for 747's. So, how would they get the sucker home? <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <font color="#0000ff"><strong>Just tell the truth and let the chips fall...</strong></font> </div>

 

[halcyondays]

Shannon to Gander is not as far as you might think. But otherwise, probably the same way as other short range aircraft fly across the Atlantic : refuelling in places like Iceland and Newfoundland, or a southerly route via the Azores.

 

[h2ouniverse]

Indeed.<br />Before WWII, the usual route for transatlantic flights was US-NewFoundland-Azores-Lisbon<br />

 

[erioladastra]

That is the least of the worries - they would have to get all the equipment over there to prep for flight and mount the orbiter onto the 747! Ouch!

 

[h2ouniverse]

True. But "necessity makes law". Or PR <img src="/images/icons/smile.gif" /><br />Actually the Shuttle came here already with its 747 in 1983 at the Paris Air Show in Le Bourget.<br />

 

[MeteorWayne]

If there were a TAL abort, I don't think there'd be a rush, since the next mission might be a loooong time away. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font color="#000080"><em><font color="#000000">But the Krell forgot one thing John. Monsters. Monsters from the Id.</font></em> </font></p><p><font color="#000080">I really, really, really, really miss the "first unread post" function</font><font color="#000080"> </font></p> </div>

 

[jimfromnsf]

The orbiter would have to be "gutted" to allow the 747 to make the legs. The engines would have to be removed. Anything in the payload bay removed and the crew cabin deconfigured. This wasn't needed for Enterprise since it was lighter and the 747 didn't have ceiling restrictions (N2H4 freezing)

 

[lampblack]

You know... I probably should have taken a close look at a map and figured that out. Thanks, all, for the answers! <img src="/images/icons/wink.gif" /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <font color="#0000ff"><strong>Just tell the truth and let the chips fall...</strong></font> </div>

 

[bobblebob]

Any video animations of a TAL? Would love to see how one would actually work in practise

 

[jimfromnsf]

You must be thinking of an RTLS. TAL is just a launch followed by a quite entry

 

[h2ouniverse]

Thanks for the precision.<br />An evidence btw that the PR operation was perfectly OK, because after twenty+ years I did not remember this detail...