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To: samtheman
"...completely unrelated to the shuttle....

"...but, in my opinion, the military dominance of Near Earth Orbits, which is crucial to US defence, does not depend on them at all."

Please see....

Though the first all-military Shuttle mission was originally scheduled for launch on 8 December 1984, it did not lift off until 24 January 1985. Captain Thomas K. Mattingly, II was selected to command Discovery on the highly classified mission. The orbiter was piloted by Air Force Colonel Loren J. Shriver, and the mission specialists were Air Force Major Ellison S. Onizuka and Marine Corps Lt. Colonel James F. Buchli. Air Force Major Gary E. Payton served as payload specialist. The launch was delayed on January 23rd due to weather, and cold weather held up cryogenic fueling operations for two hours on the 24th. Those delays aside, the last four hours of the countdown proceeded smoothly, and Discovery lifted off Pad 39A at 1950:00Z on 24 January 1985. Details of the mission are not releasable. Discovery landed at KSC at 2123:24Z on 27 January 1985.

All the Best....

22 posted on 02/06/2003 9:01:20 AM PST by onedoug
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To: onedoug
I don't doubt that there are military applications to shuttle flights. After all, when the shuttle's going up anyway, why not put some military stuff aboard. That would make sense.

But to say that the shuttle flights are a PREREQUISITE to US military supremacy in orbit, is wrong. In my opinion.
23 posted on 02/06/2003 9:16:26 AM PST by samtheman
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