So what happens if we need to send another shuttle to fetch the astronauts and it gets damaged?

[NNN0LHI]

Is there a third shuttle and crew standing by and ready to go get all of them if that were to occur? Or is that the end of the story pretty much? Anyone know?

Don

[ddeclue]

1. There are THREE total shuttles. One is in orbit, one is on stand by for a rescue.

Your scenario is exceedingly remote..

There is about a 2% chance of something going wrong (2 out of about 100 missions have failed).

Therefore to have one failed mission is a 2% risk - to have 2 parallel failed missions would be 2% of 2% or .04% - very small. And even if should that happen, if the two shuttles were able to rendevous, there may be something that one could do to help the other to get them either safely on the ground or to the ISS. The rescue shuttle if launched would only contain a pilot and commander, not another seven astronauts.

If the third shuttle were then launched, the possibility of 3 simultaneous parallel failures on three different shuttles would then be 0.0008%.

[HopeHoops]

2. No - if both shuttles get damaged then ELEVEN people are fucked.

This is the first time they've ever had two shuttles on the pads and ready to be prepared for launch (which can take up to 7 days). Russia MIGHT be able to get a few capsules up to them but they've only got about three weeks of extra oxygen.

[Echo In Light]

3. Some establishment powers will be grateful for such a huge distraction from WAR CRIMES

[CJCRANE]

4. Call the A-Team. They will build a new shuttle

out of junk and race to the rescue.

[ddeclue]

5. Don't you mean MacGuyver?

:rofl:

[LakeSamish706]

6. We beg the Russians to help us..... n/t