From: henry@spsystems.net   
      
   In article ,   
   Marc 182   wrote:   
   >> By the time you added rendezvous/docking hardware...   
   >   
   >What if you don't dock?  Get close and station-keep, then spacewalk, tie   
   >a line, and haul the stuff across. Like resupplying a ship at sea. May   
   >even be safer than a manual docking (but not an autodocking).   
      
   No, it's less safe than any kind of docking, because now any failure in   
   stationkeeping can result in a collision.  Rendezvous & docking at least   
   is *over with* quickly.   
      
   As Derek has noted, the line needs to be taut for hauling stuff over in   
   free fall, and that is all too likely to mess up attitude control for   
   both ends, plus complicating stationkeeping badly.   
      
   And do bear in mind that station spacewalks are confined to the surface of   
   the station.  The suits have no propulsion capability.  (The SAFER packs   
   are emergency self-rescue devices, *not* available or suitable for routine   
   operational use.)   
   --   
   "Think outside the box -- the box isn't our friend."    |   Henry Spencer   
                                   -- George Herbert       | henry@spsystems.net   
      
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