So NASA hoped to connect the OTV with the comsat market. NASA would build the OTV, launch some comsats to GEO with it, then handle the system to the private sector. The OTV would start from Freedom, boost a satellite to GEO, then move back to Freedom by braking, either on the atmosphere (or propulsively, but that would take an awful lot of propellants). Repeat, relaunch, reuse.
Satellite servicing (pioneered by Solar Max in 1984) would be a natural offspring of that.
Hmm. I can't help but feel that the Space Shuttle is never going to be able to make that plan economically viable. I wonder if Freedom+Shuttle C would be able to make OTV GEO sat servicing economical though?
fasquardon