If a US military satellite should be recovered in a Shuttle, the following points should be considered:
- Does the satellite fit into the payload bay? (length, width, height and mass)
- How can the satellite be grabbed? Is there a special adapter for the robotic arm?
- How can the attitude control system and all thrusters of the satellite be disabled?
- How can the transmitter of the satellite be disabledisabled?
- How can the satellite be prepared for transport. What should be folded and what should be dismounted?
- How can the satellite be moved into the payload bay?
- How can the satellite be fix within the payload bay? Are special adapters necessary?
- How can the self-destruction charges of top secret-secret satellite parts be disableddisabled?
The payload satellite should not be damaged by the g-forces during reentry and landing on the runway. Nor should the payload bay be damaged by a floating satellite. The security of the Shuttle nor the astronauts should not be endangered by the satellite.
But how can all these points be solved when stealing an unknown secret military satellite?