50 – approximate percent of the 15,000-pound shuttle performance increase necessary to fly to the International Space Station that is provided by the Super Lightweight Tank
Following the Wikipedia ET page to this Lockheed Martin page I found this quote:Quote50 – approximate percent of the 15,000-pound shuttle performance increase necessary to fly to the International Space Station that is provided by the Super Lightweight TankWhat provides the other 50%?
What causes the tyvek (previously AFRSI) covers to blow off of the aft RCS thrusters once the SSMEs ignite?
Quote from: spaceshuttle on 10/17/2009 06:05 amWhat causes the tyvek (previously AFRSI) covers to blow off of the aft RCS thrusters once the SSMEs ignite?The covers have always been paper, never "tiles" -- they burn.
Quote from: psloss on 10/17/2009 11:03 amQuote from: spaceshuttle on 10/17/2009 06:05 amWhat causes the tyvek (previously AFRSI) covers to blow off of the aft RCS thrusters once the SSMEs ignite?The covers have always been paper, never "tiles" -- they burn.I have heard the acoustics from SRB ignition take them off.Danny Deger
Quote from: Danny Dot on 10/17/2009 11:23 amQuote from: psloss on 10/17/2009 11:03 amQuote from: spaceshuttle on 10/17/2009 06:05 amWhat causes the tyvek (previously AFRSI) covers to blow off of the aft RCS thrusters once the SSMEs ignite?The covers have always been paper, never "tiles" -- they burn.I have heard the acoustics from SRB ignition take them off.Danny DegerThey come off (mostly) when the main engines start on the pad before booster ignition.
Quote from: psloss on 10/17/2009 11:45 amThey come off (mostly) when the main engines start on the pad before booster ignition.How about the ones on the forward pod? Do they survive the main engines starting?
They come off (mostly) when the main engines start on the pad before booster ignition.
In the unlikely event that the Shuttle lost both OMS thrusters could the Shuttle reenter simply by letting its orbit decay? I imagine this depends very strongly on its altitude and orientation. How soon would the Shuttle's orbit decay if it presented the maximum possible area normal to its velocity vector? Could it survive such a reentry, provided it reoriented itself in time? Could it keep the crew alive for long enough to do this?
Quote from: mmeijeri on 10/25/2009 10:58 pmIn the unlikely event that the Shuttle lost both OMS thrusters could the Shuttle reenter simply by letting its orbit decay? I imagine this depends very strongly on its altitude and orientation. How soon would the Shuttle's orbit decay if it presented the maximum possible area normal to its velocity vector? Could it survive such a reentry, provided it reoriented itself in time? Could it keep the crew alive for long enough to do this?No but it could use its RCS thrusters
Quote from: Jim on 10/25/2009 11:18 pmQuote from: mmeijeri on 10/25/2009 10:58 pmIn the unlikely event that the Shuttle lost both OMS thrusters could the Shuttle reenter simply by letting its orbit decay? I imagine this depends very strongly on its altitude and orientation. How soon would the Shuttle's orbit decay if it presented the maximum possible area normal to its velocity vector? Could it survive such a reentry, provided it reoriented itself in time? Could it keep the crew alive for long enough to do this?No but it could use its RCS thrustersYep. The +X RCS jets.
No but it could use its RCS thrusters
Quote from: Jim on 10/25/2009 11:18 pmNo but it could use its RCS thrustersWhere would things go wrong if you tried the orbital decay route? Not trying to say it would be a good idea, just trying to understand.
wrong entry angle. Too shallow