From: henry@spsystems.net   
      
   In article ,   
   Roy Smith   wrote:   
   >I assume by "reentry module", you mean, "reentry to Earth's atmosphere"?   
   >If so, it's not really needed.  The return vehicle could park itself in   
   >Earth orbit and a shuttle (or other vehicle) could rendezvous with it to   
   >get the cargo.   
      
   Unfortunately, decelerating *into* low Earth orbit is extremely expensive   
   in fuel.  No, the return vehicle can't just "park itself" in LEO, not if   
   it has any ordinary propulsion system.   
      
   For at least some sets of assumptions, it's mass-competitive to have a   
   minimal sample capsule (*not* the whole return vehicle) decelerate into a   
   very high Earth orbit, for retrieval by a station-based tug.  The trouble   
   is that no suitable high-performance tug currently exists.   
   --   
   MOST launched 30 June; science observations running     |   Henry Spencer   
   since Oct; first surprises seen; papers pending.        | henry@spsystems.net   
      
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