> The shuttle could cary 29,000kg to orbit Sigh. Where did you get that number? Wikipedia lists 27,500 kg to LEO, but according to Guinness "With a mass of 22

> The shuttle could cary 29,000kg to orbit Sigh. Where did you get that number? Wikipedia lists 27,500 kg to LEO, but according to Guinness "With a mass of 22,753 kg (50,161 lb), Chandra X-ray Observatory telescope launched on 23 July 1999 is the heaviest satellite the shuttle has ever launched." And I suspect that if the flight required abort and won't reach orbit, the shuttle would have out-of-specification loads at landing, as the payload mass which is safe for landing is less than that.