Apresby.147 net.columbia utcsrgv!utzoo!decvax!duke!chico!harpo!presby!tonja Mon Feb 8 07:55:05 1982 Shuttle Refit Reliable sources at the National Research Council of Canada have confirmed that Columbia's roll-out was dayys ahead of schedule; all systems are go at this time; Columbia will not as previously stated in Space Digest handle 65,000# in her current configuration; she will be retired in fall for weight-saving refit; Challenger to be delivered this summer will be the first orbiter to handle the znticipated payload; further it was learned that NOT painting the large liquid tank white would save 500 pounds; it is believed by this reporter that Columbia will fly with a 'natural' tank in March. ----------------------------------------------------------------- gopher://quux.org/ conversion by John Goerzen of http://communication.ucsd.edu/A-News/ This Usenet Oldnews Archive article may be copied and distributed freely, provided: 1. There is no money collected for the text(s) of the articles. 2. The following notice remains appended to each copy: The Usenet Oldnews Archive: Compilation Copyright (C) 1981, 1996 Bruce Jones, Henry Spencer, David Wiseman.